Do visitors learn in science museum exhibitions? Evaluation is one way of determining whether an exhibition or program meets its goals, however, a research approach is necessary to gauge if, and how much, learning takes place. When we observe children’s behavior in museums it sometimes seems unlikely that they are learning. In this reverse session, we will present four projects focusing on cognitive learning. The convener will lead a discussion, guided in part by these questions: Does cognitive learning occur during museum visits and how can it be demonstrated or measured? What are the conditions under which learning can be enhanced? Do children need or benefit from adult or parental guidance for learning to occur?