Museological educator – comments of a non-practising professional on the pleasures and advantages of a museum game

From the very beginning, the Polish museological literature has drawn attention to the educational role of museums. Yet in practice, educators are not perceived as employees who deserve to be called “museologists”. The authoress postulates that educators should be treated as fully-fl edged museum employees, particularly that it is precisely them who museum visitors come into contact fi rst. That is why, it is important that they have an opportunity to be involved in all phases of the organization of the exhibition and enter into direct contact with the collection which constitutes the most important point of reference of all museum activity. – Yet one should naturally draw attention to the necessary competence: familiarity with the discipline of knowledge represented by the museum, good inter-personal skills, ability to be flexible and to adjust to the level represented by the visitors, as well as knowledge of culture codes and contexts. For an educator may act as a specific medium, who through creating a suitable atmosphere during a museum visit and through imparting information that is pervaded with the necessary value of authenticity, guides the visitor to new ways of thinking and helps him to get to know the truths and values which have so far remained unknown to him.

From the very beginning, the Polish museological literature has drawn attention to the educational role of museums. Yet in practice, educators are not perceived as employees who deserve to be called “museologists”. The authoress postulates that educators should be treated as fully-fl edged museum employees, particularly that it is precisely them who museum visitors come into contact fi rst. That is why, it is important that they have an opportunity to be involved in all phases of the organization of the exhibition and enter into direct contact with the collection which constitutes the most important point of reference of all museum activity. – Yet one should naturally draw attention to the necessary competence: familiarity with the discipline of knowledge represented by the museum, good inter-personal skills, ability to be flexible and to adjust to the level represented by the visitors, as well as knowledge of culture codes and contexts. For an educator may act as a specific medium, who through creating a suitable atmosphere during a museum visit and through imparting information that is pervaded with the necessary value of authenticity, guides the visitor to new ways of thinking and helps him to get to know the truths and values which have so far remained unknown to him.