ines the social context of learning, with an emphasis on either past experience (i.e.
culture) or the current educational situation (i.e. the milieu in which learning takes
place in the museum). While the particulars that are emphasized by the various
theoretical analyses differ, the commonality among all is a recognition of the need
to take into account all the possible factors – development, culture, previous
knowledge, and current environment – that may influence learning. Current interest
in accessibility – physical, intellectual, and cultural for all visitors – can be viewed
as a result of the shift in perspective to focus on visitors, the increased interest in
the social role of museums, and increased sensitivity to the multiple viewpoints that
need to be accommodated in the museum (Falk and Dierking 2000; see also chapter
19).