90년대에 들어와 사회 전반에 걸쳐 평생교육이나 비형식 교육에 대한 중요성이 강 조(강인애,2003b)되면서,평생교육기관의 대표적 기관이라고 할 수 있는 박물관,특 히 박물관에서의 교육의 역할과 기능에 대한 중요성이 강조되고 있다(국립민속박물 관,2007;안정애,2005;이병준,2008;한국교육철학회,2001;AmericanAssociationof Museums,1992;Anderson,1997;Dierking& Falk,2000).2000년대에 이르러서는 박 물관 교육 사례나 활동 그 자체로서 의미나 중요성을 넘어서 어떤 방식에 의한,또는 어떤 목표를 지닌 박물관 교육인지에 대한 논의로 관심이 확장하게 된다.다시 말해, 박물관 교육은 단순히 이전에 학교교육에서 이루어지던 방식과 체제의 답습이나 모방이 아니라,박물관이 지닌 특성(김인회,2007;김형숙,2001;윤여각,2000;최병식,2007) 에 입각하여 오히려 학교교육에 대한 ‘대안적 또는 보완적 방식’(이병준,박웅희,2006; Beverly,2000;Illenis,2006;Rowe,2002)으로 이루어져야 한다는 점이 부각되고 있 다.그리고 학교교육의 대안적 또는 보완적 교육으로서의 박물관 교육에 대한 논의는 크게 세 가지 측면으로 정리해볼 수 있다.
This study aimed two things. The first was to examine the theoretical backgrounds of Object-based learning(OBL, hereafter) as a teaching and learning model for museum education. The theoretical backgrounds of the object-based learning are grounded, first, on constructivist epistemology in which individual learner's perspectives and experiences were valued along with contextual learning environments. Followed were the analysis of Inquiry-based learning and flow theory apt for the other theoretical backgrounds of the Object-based learning. The second purpose of this study was to present a case of a museum education program developed and implemented according to the object-based learning. The case study which was conducted for the children of 3-10 years for three month sin the Museum of Deoksugung Palacetargeted two educational objectives of both ‘learning of the objects' and ‘learning through objects' And the results of the case study presented highly positive educational possibilities of OBL for the young children, even when the exhibition of the museum has dealt with rather heavy topics andera. Based upon the results of the case, this study emphasized the importance of understanding and application of learning theory premisedon the development of a museum educational program, especially, thato fobject-based learning approach distinctively proper and highlighting the unique features of museum education as both life-long learnng and informal learning.