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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