Chapter 9 focuses on the ways in which informal learning opportunities can be expanded far beyond the confines of the environment in which it takes place. Many informal science institutions are developing way to do this, such as the development of a strong online and interactive presence. Thus, as individuals leave the exhibit, they can still access the important information online via their cellphones. Liberty Science Center in particular is seeking to do just that, as they endeavor to allow exhibits to be accessible through cell phones.  Wayne Labar, vice president of the center, notes that “cell phones are proving to be a way to continue to engage people with exhibits at the center even after they walk out the door.” This is a highly valuable tool as this fosters a greater solidification of the presented material within the viewers’ minds. Individuals are not solely subjected to trying to recall the information that they gathered at such an informal learning opportunity, but can now go back and look at exhibits that sparked their interest. While I greatly appreciate the value of such a learning tool, this might pose some risks as well. Labar mentions that this will engage people even after they walk out the door, but this tool may perhaps preclude individuals from entering the doors of the museum in the first place. In an age where a mound of information is readily available at our fingertips, we have become lazy. We use the web as a source for our daily inquiries and research questions, foregoing the foreboding walls of the classic library. I am just afraid that museums will be made to suffer a similar fate. Once individuals realize that they can gather as much information, if not more, about the confines of a museum with the click of a button, they may never choose to enter a museum. And that would lead to negative consequences, as the purpose of these informal institutions is to spark interest and expose one to knowledge that one would not ordinarily venture on one’s own. Thus, rather than perusing the exhibits of a museum with an open and inquisitive mind, we will limit ourselves by only choosing to investigate matters of interest that we already have. To perhaps alleviate this problem, the sites offering up information about these exhibits should only present a limited amount of information, causing us to continue to rely on the museum for engagement with these exhibits.

These sites could also serve as a further learning tool in aiding teachers to connect the field trips to classroom curriculums. Teachers would be able to know what they will find in these museums, allowing for advance preparation with the students. Teachers can then also log on these sites after the field trip visits to allow for follow-up discussions with students. Essentially, these web sites can serve as invaluable learning tools, as well as ways to foster the link between formal and informal science settings. However, careful planning must go into these sites to prevent a situation where museums themselves become obsolete.