I have to say, I can't see how Tilden's principles cause experience,to
overshadow learning.
Tilden says just the opposite, and says it quite clearly. Most
importantly would be number 5. "Interpretation should aim to present a whole
rather than a part, and must address itself to the whole man rather than any
one phase". This is most certainly interpreting "facts". You can not
interpret the whole just through hands on activity. What you are describing
is what I would call "Hands on for Hands on sake". The bane of the modern
museum world!
The only principle that I can find, that is close to suggesting the
importance of experiential learning in number two and even it reminds you
of the importance of facts. "Information, as such is not interpretation.
Interpretation is revelation based upon information. But they are entirely
different things. HOWEVER ALL INTERPRETATION INCLUDES INFORMATION."
Emphasis my own.
I also work at a historical site. I also work entirely in first person.
I would definitely refer to my interpretation as meeting Tilden's principles
and I rarely use experiential or tactile teaching at all.
As to the original poster's question. I wasn't going to respond, as I
have no empirical data, just apocryphal from my own experiences. I would
argue however that I wouldn't refer to a script is being the opposite of a
Tilden "delivery". In fact if I was creating a "script" I would still
follow Tilden principles. Scripts have their advantages, though I would
argue that I feel they have more disadvantages then pluses. I don't even
like to present at conferences from paper. Nor do I think Tilden is a god.
He wasn't. Frankly the principles are pretty much just common sense, and
would apply to many other non-interpretive venues. I was following Tilden
principles far before I learned them.
If I might ask the original poster, what did you think of the scripted
presentation? Did it engage you? Did you learn (or I suppose in Tilden
speak) did it provoke you? Did you pay any attention to the other visitors
around you? Did they seem engaged?
Ron Carnegie
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Annmarie Zan
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2005 2:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Interpretation or Not?
I work for a museum that think's Tildens principles are God and they do
have a lot going for them. If you follow the principles you will engage your
auduence and hopefully teach them something. Where I personally run into
problems with them is when the opportunity to "experience" overshadows the
ability to learn. I work for a historical museum and we do first person
interpretation but there are still hard facts that are neccessary to get
out. I feel we short change our audience by just let them see, smell, touch,
etc the buck skin but not share the wonderful thought of how this buckskin
became soft by brain tanning and the inginuity of the Natives that created
this tool just because it would be telling people facts and not
interpreting. Just my 2 cents
love, annmarie
-----Original Message-----
From: Nicholas Carl Visscher <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 15:44:07 -0400
Subject: Interpretation or Not?
Is anyone aware of any studies that assess the effectiveness of
interpretation and using (specifically Tilden's) interpretive principles
versus other delivery methods (i.e. reading from script) in education
presentations?
background: I was recently at a zoo where I watched an animal training
demo...there was a live interpreter, but she was reading directly from a
script. Straight factual information. This made me wonder about the way we
interpret exhibits and animal interactions. Maybe reading from a script IS
just as good as putting a lot of effort into making a presentation more
engaging and interactive?....
any thoughts?....any empirical data?...
Thanks,
Nick Visscher
virtual outreach specialist
Virtual Outreach Program
MSU Museum (room 205)
West Circle Drive
East Lansing, MI 48824
email: [log in to unmask]
phone: 517-353-3882
cell: 517-980-6244
fax: 517-432-2846
http://www.virtualoutreach.org
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