Middle school students' opinions on their experiences of visiting Panorama 1453 History Museum in the social studies course

The aim of this study is to examine the experiences of 7th grade middle school students regarding their visit to the Panorama 1453 History Museum within the scope of the Social Studies course. The study was conducted during the 2024–2025 academic year with the participation of 25 students from a public middle school in Istanbul. Designed in line with the qualitative research model, the data were collected through a semi-structured interview form consisting of 10 open-ended questions developed by the researcher. The data obtained were analyzed through descriptive analysis and categorized under specific themes and codes. According to the findings, students found the museum visit more engaging, impressive, and instructive compared to traditional classroom instruction. Most participants stated that the visual elements and three-dimensional displays in the museum made the content more tangible, thus facilitating learning and increasing retention. During the visit, many students reported feelings of curiosity, excitement, enthusiasm, and pride; some stated that they learned about the conquest of Istanbul in more detail and with greater emotional impact for the first time. Moreover, the museum visit was observed to have increased students' interest in museums and their desire to explore similar cultural spaces. In conclusion, panoramic museum visits contribute positively to students' academic learning as well as their awareness and sensitivity toward historical events, serving as effective out-of-school learning environments within the context of the Social Studies course.