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Training
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Online Museum Classes
Description:
So much to say and so little space in which to say it. That is the dilemma when scripting an exhibition. How do you say what needs to be said in the space available? How do you layer your message, so that different levels of information can be acquired by visitors depending on their interest and the time they spend in their exhibit. How small should you go in font size to get all the facts included? Discover the value of themes, tangibles, intangibles, and universals in writing exhibit text that visitors really want to read - and remember.
Course Outline:
1. Types of Labels and Panels
2. Determining the Audience
3. Determining and Writing the "Big Idea"
4. Tangibles, Intangibles and Universals in Writing
5. Information versus Take Home Message
6. Sub-themes
7. Writing to Different Levels of Attention and Knowledge
8. "Grabbing" the Audience
9. Formative Evaluation
10. Hints and Resources on Label Design
11. Final Scripted Labels Posted
Participants should come with an idea of an exhibit or panel to script. It can be an existing exhibit that needs to be re-written or an exhibit in the planning that needs a script.
Logistics:
Participants in Scripting the Exhibit work through sections on their own. Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and dialog between students and the instructor through online forums.
Scripting the Exhibit runs four weeks. To reserve a spot in the course, please pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you have trouble please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org
The Instructor:
Karin Hostetter has over thirty years experience with
museum education. With a career that includes natural
history museums, cultural history museums (including first
person interpretation), nature centers, and zoos, Ms.
Hostetter is experienced in interpretive writing, program
and curriculum development, and staff and volunteer
training. As a museum educator, she was Curator of
Education for the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife
Sanctuary (McKinney, TX). Among her award-winning
education curricula are several programs she developed for
the education departments during her five years at the
Heard Museum and her twelve years on staff at the Denver
Zoo. As an interpretive writer, Ms. Hostetter has written
text for exhibits, wayside exhibits, visitor brochures, and
professional magazines. Her skill is in making technical
information understandable and meaningful to visitors.
Karin has worked with volunteers throughout her career,
becoming the first paid volunteer coordinator at the Denver
Zoo. Ms. Hostetter taught the National Association for
Interpretation's two-day volunteer management course for
volunteer coordinators and served on their panel about
volunteer programs. She authored a series of articles for
the National Association for Interpretation's Legacy
magazine, providing guidelines for developing and
maintaining a volunteer organization. Ms. Hostetter now
consults with organizations on structuring and improving
volunteer programs.
Over the years, Ms. Hostetter has been
responsible for small animal exhibits and animal care at
both the Heard Museum and the Denver Zoo. She worked with
wild animal rehabilitation and public education animals,
work that included training volunteer animal handlers.
Karin co-founded the Zoos, Wildlife Parks, and Aquaria
special interest section of the National Association for
Interpretation.
Karin Hostetter is owner of Interpret This,
a consulting company specializing in interpretive writing,
program and curriculum development, and volunteer program
management. When she is not consulting with other museums,
she likes to volunteer and contract teach at them with a
special love for preschool and family programs.
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