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Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

  • 1.  Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-26-2016 06:00 PM

    Has any one tried out using other words or phrases to describe your docents? 

    Our museum is creating a program that allows teens to act as docents, but we aren't convinced that calling them "Teen Docents" is the best idea. The word "docent" feels too antiquated, even for adults. We've thrown around ideas like "Gallery Interpreter" and "Exhibit Guide."

    Any ideas for some fun, new alternatives?

    Thanks!

    ------------------------------
    Melisa McChesney
    Museology Graduate Program - University of Washington
    Seattle WA
    ------------------------------
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  • 2.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 05:58 AM

    I'm a volunteer tour guide at the American Museum of Natural History. The Museum--and guides--frown on using "docent" for exactly the reasons you cite. We prefer the term "Tour Guide." We also have people stationed in the bigger halls who answer questions, but don't take groups through the museum. They're called "Explainers."

    ------------------------------
    Christian Waters
    Director, Business Development
    Osprey Publishing
    New York NY

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  • 3.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 06:41 AM

    Hi,

    I'm from Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and we call our volunteers Exhibit Interpreters. We also have a teen work-study program (participants are paid so it's not volunteer work, but the names might help trigger some ideas). There are different tracks available so we've had to come up with some different names. Two that might be most relevant are Young Naturalists and Shedd (obviously substitute with your organization) Ambassadors. I hope that helps! Good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Lisa Ostrego
    Director Guest Engagement
    John G. Shedd Aquarium
    Chicago IL

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  • 4.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 08:59 AM

    Hi Melissa,

    I like your ideas of Gallery Interpreter and Exhibit Guide. Maybe Junior (or Teen) Gallery Guide would work. 

    At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, we have three groups of guides and don't "officially" refer to any of them as docents. Our daily, public tour guides are the MFA Associates - a group that performs additional duties (e.g. staffing the information desk, providing floral arrangements, producing fundraising events, etc.) School group tours are led by our Gallery Instructors who are especially trained to communicate with the entire range of school -aged visitors. Finally a smaller group, the Weekend Guides, are enlisted to lead public tours on weekend days. Many of them have already been active with the MFA Associates/the Gallery Instructors - but we do attract others from the community.  

    ------------------------------
    Herbert Jones
    Volunteer & Intern Programs Manager
    Museum of Fine Arts
    Boston MA

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  • 5.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 09:39 AM

    Hello Melissa,

     

    This past year, we have been using the title "Museum Ambassadors," which the students love. Variation: "Museum Student Ambassador."

     

    Best,

     

    Tavy

     

    Tavy D. Aherne, PhD

    Andrew W. Mellon and Anthony J. Moravic Senior Academic Officer

     

    image006.jpg@01D15433.45670620

     

    1133 E. Seventh Street

    Bloomington, IN 47405

    812-855-7727

    taherne@indiana.edu

    www.artmuseum.iu.edu

     




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  • 6.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 10:23 AM

    At the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, we are using "gallery guide" to describe our staff who provide tours and educational information within the museum galleries. 

    ------------------------------
    Kimberly Jondahl
    Communications & Education Director
    State Historical Society of North Dakota
    Bismarck ND

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  • 7.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 10:36 AM

    I like that we're thinking about words and what they mean lately- it's very cool.

    One I like is "Facilitators"...you're facilitating learning, discussion, enjoyment, the visit in general. 

    "Providers of Awesomeness" and "Unicorns of Knowledge and Creativity", while obviously right answers, tends to get a little cumbersome on business cards :-). 

    ------------------------------
    Tracey Berg-Fulton
    Collections Database Associate
    Carnegie Museum of Art
    Pittsburgh PA

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  • 8.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 11:44 AM

    Hi

    We are a children's museum, so our language and the work is  slightly different, but we use the term Discovery Guide. We too have a teen workforce program where teens are working as Discovery Guides, but we would like to call our program something other than Teen Workforce development. I would be interested to hear what other are doing as well.

    Sandra

     

    Sandra Bonnici Hoecherl

    Associate Director of Education
    Madison Children's Museum
    100 N. Hamilton Street
    Madison, WI 53703
    Direct Line: 608.354.0542
    Main line: 608.256.6445 x542
    Fax: 608.268.1398

    MadisonChildrensMuseum.org

    logo4cvert
    2011 Winner of The National Medal for Museum and Library Service! 

     




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  • 9.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 11:50 AM

    What type of museum? Sometimes the name or theme of the museum or task can be combined to create a special name for volunteers. For example, as a park we seek volunteers who love nature - people who are naturalists at heart. And in 2004, that's what we named our program  - Naturalist at Hearts.We refer to our volunteers as "Hearts" which is a positive nickname.

    Thesaurus.com lists docents as instructors, teachers or lecturers, and pupils or students as antonyms. In that regard, have a student docent is an oxymoron - and that could be the source of some great possible names for your teens.

    Training people to become docents reminds me of a great (and terrible) pun - "In Docent Exposure."

    ------------------------------
    Alan Goldstein
    Interpretive Naturalist
    Falls of The Ohio State Park Interpretive Center
    Clarksville IN

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 10.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 01:28 PM

    Hi Alan,

    We're a maritime historical society; Puget Sound Maritime, in Seattle, WA. We've joked a little about calling them "Exhibit Captains" or something similarly maritime-related. The challenge has been making sure that the program sounds exciting/fun, but also professional and something that the students can really take pride in. 

    I LOVE that you call your volunteers "Hearts." What an excellent way to capture the important role they play and show that you value their work.

    Thanks to all for the advice, I'm really enjoying the diverse input!

    - Melisa

    ------------------------------
    Melisa McChesney
    Museology Graduate Program - University of Washington
    Seattle WA

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 11.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 01:31 PM

    Sorry --

    I have found that as a rule people that work in museums are interested in new experiences.  Being a docent - and being called a docent - is one of the things one learns about working at a museum.  I don't find 'docent' antiquated.  It is the actual name of the position.  What is the problem with a young person learning a new word? Perhaps the job description needs to be more enthusiastic.

    ------------------------------
    Lloyd Herman
    Trustee
    Highline Historical Society

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 12.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 02:01 PM

    Hi Melisa!

    Every museum I've worked at uses the term "docent" to describe a volunteer who either acts as a tour guide or gallery interpreter. I may be old-fashioned but I believe it is actually a very honorable title and sounds much more significant than being referred to simply as a volunteer. Still, I definitely appreciate that it is a bit archaic in that most people don't know what it means. 

    I believe the term 'docent' becomes a necessary one when you have paid staff doing the job of tour guide, visitor services, educators, etc in your institution. Creates a much needed distinction. After all, if I was volunteering I DEFINITELY wouldn't want the same title as someone who is actually getting paid for almost the same type of work I was doing for free!

    So I say, if you find the term to be too stuffy and you do not have paid staff doing similar work, then I think the term guide or interpreter is totally fine.

    Best of Luck!

    ------------------------------
    Katie Courtien
    National September 11 Memorial & Museum
    New York NY

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 13.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 02:19 PM

    We often call our docents "Gallery Guides".

    ------------------------------
    Lisa Howie
    Director
    Bermuda National Gallery
    Hamilton

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 14.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 08:58 PM
    Being involved with a number of institutions in hosting, docenting, tour
    guiding etc. ------it depends on what the person is expected to
    accomplish. In the manner that I stay involved, I prefer to be a "HOST".
    I provide welcome duties, directions, accurate and detailed, if
    required, interpretations, monitoring and security, as well as escort
    walk-a-rounds. The overall result is muti-faceted. It's surprising how
    well most visitors appreciate the personalized attention they receive.
    And it all is what I feel is the duty and purpose of a "HOST", not
    necessarily a DOCENT. You could have "Teen Hosts" if they have
    sufficient knowledge of their various responsibilties. I also have a
    badge which has my name and underneath my name the word "EXPLAINER". It
    actually opens up many conversations----I believe the origin is British.
    I also think that "docent" is antiquated, stilted, and possibly a little
    boring, and, it applies to the perception of adults as well as the
    younger ages. Admit it or not, many adults don't know what a "Docent"
    is, unless they frequent museums. Many people know where they can find a
    docent, and they can presume what a docent does, but I believe there may
    be some "warmer" and better descriptive name badge titles.

    Al Frank , museum consultant and volunteer, HOST, and EXPLAINER


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  • 15.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 02-29-2016 09:36 PM

    Al,

    Thank you for that on-the-floor perspective. I really like "host;" it feels welcoming, dignified, and captures the many roles that docents often play. "Explainer" is also intriguing! For me, the words than convey warmth feel so much more authentic. I'm going to be running all of these ideas by some teens tomorrow to see what they might prefer being called, hopefully that will help me narrow down all these excellent suggestions. 

    Thanks, again.

    - Melisa

    ------------------------------
    Melisa McChesney
    Museology Graduate Program - University of Washington
    Seattle WA

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 16.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-01-2016 10:31 AM

    We have adult docents and our teens are TASC force members, Teen Advocates for Science Communication    

    ------------------------------
    Melissa Felder
    Chief Marketing Officer
    California Academy of Sciences
    San Francisco CA

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 17.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-01-2016 10:26 AM

    Over ten years ago, the Brooklyn Museum changed the name of their adult volunteer educators to Museum Guides. The high school/college student program was named Student Guides.

    ------------------------------
    Maribeth Flynn
    Museum Education Consultant

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  • 18.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-03-2016 04:27 PM

    The Frye Art Museum's volunteer educators are called Gallery Guides. 

    ------------------------------
    Jill Rullkoetter
    Senior Deputy Director
    Frye Art Museum
    Seattle WA

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  • 19.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-01-2016 11:04 AM

    At the Brooklyn Museum, we use the term "Museum Guide" instead of "Docent".

     

    Alisa Martin

    Vice Director, Brand Management and Visitor Services

     

    Brooklyn Museum

    200 Eastern Parkway

    Brooklyn, NY 11238

    T (718) 501-6484  F (718) 501-6150

    www.brooklynmuseum.org

    alisa.martin@brooklynmuseum.org

     




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  • 20.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-01-2016 12:44 PM

    Maybe consider involving the teens in the process of choosing a name? Giving them the context and parameters, having them brainstorm some ideas, having staff give them feedback on their favorites.  Could be a fun & empowering experience for them!

    Mikala

      

    ------------------------------
    Mikala Woodward
    Exhibit Developer
    Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
    Seattle WA

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  • 21.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-02-2016 10:18 AM

    The Museum of Science and Industry calls its paid docents "Facilitators," though I'm not sure if there's a different name for the volunteers.

    ------------------------------
    Hadley Sibon
    Curatorial Assistant, Aurora Regional Fire Museum - Aurora, IL
    Facilitator, Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago, IL

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  • 22.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-03-2016 09:33 AM

    We have a youth tour guide program that we call Museum Ambassadors? (alternatively, youth ambassadors, young ambassadors, etc)

    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Joyce
    Interpretive Guide
    National September 11 Memorial & Museum
    New York NY

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  • 23.  RE: Alternative words/phrases for "Docent"

    Posted 03-02-2016 07:52 PM
    We have both Docents and Exhibit Hall Interpreters. Our Docents lead our school programs while our Interpreters interact with our visitors in our exhibit hall. Our teens are called Interpretive Guides.

    Good luck!


    -- 
    Sarah Erb Parnell
    Interpretive Programs Manager
    Lindsay Wildlife Experience
    925-627-2944 Direct
    925-627-2948 Interpretive Guides
    Celebrating our 60th Anniversary in 2015!
    1931 First Avenue

    Walnut Creek, CA 94597
    925-935-1978




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