ABSTRACT
Museums are magical places for most people. For the young child, an environment filled with familiar and unfamiliar objects becomes a place of wonder and excitement, transporting the child to new worlds through the power of imagination. Museums with their awe-inspiring experiences are places that offer life-changing moments for young visitors. George E. Hein, a preeminent voice in cognitive theory and author of numerous books and articles, including Learning in the Museum, writes about educational theories and suggests that each institution adopt a conceptual framework of learning to provide continuity and guide practice for its organization. The Early Learning Model (ELM) is situated within a constructivist approach to learning and describes the behaviors of a child engaged in the process of learning. The study of theory is important for museum professionals and helps to build a framework for understanding how children learn.
