Chapter 5 discusses the importance of having an interest in the topic in order for learning to be effective. Interest in the topic can be sparked by presenting flexibility and presenting the learners a chance to explore. This can be done in informal learning settings in which allow the learner to freely choose the exhibit they visit as well as what activities they wish to participate in. Therefore, more learning can occur through this method since the learners in these settings will have a interest in the subject being presented. This chapter is accurate, in that we can relate this to school and how students perform in school. Students who enjoy the subject as well have interest in it tend to perform better. This is seen with the students currently taking Organic Chemistry. This class tends to be very difficult for many students yet, those who have interest in the subject tend to perform well despite the difficulty.

Chapter  8 of Surrounded by Science discusses how age factors into learning. The textbook states “Most adults become interested in a science topic because it has immediate relevance to their lives…. The most obvious example is in the area of health. If an adult or a person close to him or her is diagnosed with an illness, such as cancer, that individual often goes to the library to take out books on the subject or goes online to find out as much as possible.” I find this to be very true in that many adults tend to read up on illnesses they have to better deal with it. For this reason, their knowledge of the topic is very extensive. Furthermore, this reminded me of my visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Most of the visitors were adults, and the reason for their interests was because they gardened at home and came to the garden looking for ideas and to learn more about the plants they wish to cultivate as well as the plants that are back home in their own garden.