I've helped to rework the tour structure into a more inquiry-based, learner driven experience in two very different institutions. In both cases we found that it works really well to
show rather
tell your docents and educators what this kind of tour looks like and why they should want to do it. Bring your docents together and lead them through an actual tour using your new format. If possible, take them to a different museum and use your format there, or at least some elements of it - that way your educators can experience learning through inquiry in a setting with unfamiliar objects, just like visitors to your museum. Afterwards, have a discussion. What did they like? What did they learn? How was this kind of tour more impactful, meaningful, exciting, fun, memorable, etc. than a more traditional lecture-style tour? Are they driven and empowered to learn more about the objects/ histories/ concepts they learned about through the tour? Is there anything they felt was missing from the experience? Through experiencing it themselves, they will understand how inquiry can be a powerful learning tool and they'll be excited to implement it in their own tours. And by including them in the discussion about what works and what they'd like to add or change, you're empowering your docents to find ways to make their tours even more impactful and unique by using their own voice and finding their comfort zone within the new framework. And provide ongoing support! If you meet regularly with your docent group, have them share their excitements, frustrations, aha moments and suggestions with each other as they transition to the new format and become more experienced in it. This will show that you want them to succeed, that you understand that it's a learning process for everyone, and also that you really do expect them to be using the inquiry model and that you're following up on that expectation.
Good luck!
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Megan Sevedge
ZooED Supervisor
Kansas City Zoo
Kansas City MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2018 08:43 AM
From: Karen Christianson
Subject: Changing volunteer tour docent culture
We are in the process of changing the format our regular public tours, which include an overview of the history of the Newberry family and our historic building as well as information about our collection and programs. The current tours are extremely information-heavy, with docents doing most (or all) of the talking. We've done a lot of research on inquiry-based tour techniques and are in the process of developing a new and more interactive and interesting format.
I'm looking for advice on introducing the new methods to our current docents, some of whom have been doing tours the same way for many years. I don't want them to feel insulted or like we're telling them they've been doing things wrong.
I'd appreciate tips from others who've been through this process, as well as any resources - videos, maybe? - to present the changes in a positive way.
Thank you,
- Karen
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Karen Christianson PhD
Director of Public Engagement
Newberry Library
Chicago IL
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