Museum-based learning for cultural heritage: Examining primary students' awareness and perceptions

The preservation of cultural heritage and its transmission to future generations is recognized as one of the fundamental dimensions of sustainability. In this context, museums are important learning environments that enable individuals to learn by experiencing cultural heritage. However, it is evident from the literature that there are a limited number of empirical studies that comprehensively examine the effects of museum-based educational practices on students' academic learning, as well as their perceptions of sustainability and cultural heritage, particularly at the primary school level. This situation highlights the need for further research into how museum-based cultural heritage education contributes to formal educational processes. Building on this gap, the aim of this study is to examine the impact of museum-based cultural heritage education, implemented at the primary school level, on students' academic achievement and their perceptions of sustainability and cultural heritage. The research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach. A pre-test-post-test control group experimental design was used for the quantitative dimension. For the qualitative dimension, student interviews were conducted to elicit their learning experiences and perceptions. The research findings indicate that museum-based cultural heritage education is an effective teaching approach that enhances students' academic achievement, fosters awareness of cultural heritage and sustainability, and supports their cognitive and affective development. This study makes a unique empirical contribution to the literature as one of the limited number of studies examining museum-based learning and cultural heritage education at the primary school level using a mixed-methods approach. The findings demonstrate that integrating museum-based learning environments with formal education programs offers significant pedagogical implications for strengthening cultural heritage education.