Museum Games and the Third Space

Elizabeth Goins

Abstract

This paper proposes the application of third space theory to museum games in order to create a model that will fulfill museum mission statements and engage the players in rich learning zones. In order to explain the integration of the model into the museum game it is necessary to review the history of the museum, museum education and third space theory. An example of third space theory to a Facebook game application prototype, myMuseum, will be reviewed. The objectives of myMuseum are to raise cultural competencies so that visitors can engage more fully with museum artifacts, and change the player's behavior from passive consumption to active creation of artifact meaning.