IFIGENIA BOTZAKI
educator, museologist Thesis title: Museum Networks: a sociological and educational approach The value of the network structure affects the most communication skills and the ability to build relationships between the units of a network. The structure of every formation is based on the web of human relationships, while they also consist the determinative factor for personal or […]
educator, museologist
Thesis title: Museum Networks: a sociological and educational approach
The value of the network structure affects the most communication skills and the ability to build relationships between the units of a network. The structure of every formation is based on the web of human relationships, while they also consist the determinative factor for personal or collective evolution. Their combined importance has as a result the expression of a widely spread need for connectivity. The network structure defines an incredibly broad range of networks. As the concept of networking is by definition associated with the society and most aspects of human activity, is now undergoing a transformation through the technological evolution, while interacting with it. The essential conjunction of both concepts triggers a process of redefining social formations, such as social networks and communities, that adapt and consolidate their operations into digital environments through the use of the new and widespread social media. However, these conditions do not eliminate any of the social problems but only place them in a new framework. In this perspective, social exclusion, inequality and differentiation are once again placed in the centre of the technological and sociological interest, as well as the practices and measures used in order to be tested for their efficiency and effectiveness. The process of social adjustment and upgrading to the current technological developments affects almost every area of human activity. Given that, the cultural sector and particularly the institution of the museum are invited to examine their role and position within the limits of the Network Society. Networking, often seen as compliance to the social requirements or as a conscious choice, consists a motivation for the museum in order to redefine itself and the relations towards the audience and other social actors, such as the education. Underlying that process is found the value of cooperation, in which the concept of networking itself is mainly based on. Experimenting with the forms that cooperation can receive within or outside the museum, leads to the creation of collaborative clusters based on the principle of similarity or in that of completion. The educational environments as well, do not stay unaltered under the technological influence. The need for networking affects on interpersonal and formal relations, challenging the traditional teaching and learning models, while its use vary from an obstacle to a tool. This paper attempts to form a proposal of a pedagogical work plan, which include the creation of a network and aims at the development of a cooperative relationship between the museum, the education and the society. Networking becomes a tool, a means and the purpose through creative, experiential and cognitive trails that explore its nature resulting to the importance of cooperation as a deep, meaningful and educational authority.