Dioramas as important tools in biological education

Abstract

We consider that natural history dioramas are one of the most effective museum exhibit genres for the teaching and learning of many aspects of biology. Dioramas have been, hitherto, a rather neglected area of museum exhibits, butaissance is beginning for them and their educational importance in contributing to peoples understanding of the natural world. They can reach a wide audience and increase access to biological knowledge. However, science learning in museums and science centres should be viewed and remembered as a life long, cultural process in which such encounters and subsequent learning are firmly located in the context in which they are seen and the culture and context within which they are interpreted.