In the Autumn 1992 issue of The Docent Educator, we discussed touring with older adults. This article departs from that one by focusing on a specific segment of older adults ╤ residents of long-term care, nursing facilities. In the previous article, one of our main points was that, even though …
In a previous issue of The Docent Educator, you discussed some tough topics. I would like to share with you what works for us when we deal with our own “tough topic,” partial nudity in an exhibition on the Mississippian Indians. Our exhibition consists of several objects, including bowls, scrapers, …
I could feel the air charged with their excitement and anticipation as the small group of thirty children and their teachers approached the museum center. I stood waiting to greet them. Young eyes looked up at me filled with curiosity. The children’s eagerness and enthusiasm engulfed me. I felt myself …
Travel can be entertaining, educational, and … when you don’t speak the language … frustrating. During a recent vacation in Germany and Austria, I encountered a variety of ways museums communicate information about their collections to non-German speaking visitors. I became curious. Do European museums do a better job serving …
A Resource to Help Enfranchise People with Disabilities The N.E.A. guide to making arts programming accessible to people with disabilities is available through the Government Printing Office. The 1992 revised edition of The Arts and 504 is available from the Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402 for …
Imagine that you are leading a group of fourth grade students to the gallery where you will begin your tour. Listen to their comments: “Oh, look! It’s much bigger than I thought it would be! And the blue-green is brighter than the print we saw.” “There’s the picture with “peace’ …
When working with English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) students, there are different techniques that research shows will help these students understand the English language. Of these techniques, three that docents might find useful when touring ESL students are: Total Physical Response (TPR), Roles and Drama, and Fun and Games. …
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, thousands of adults with special needs participate in educational programs through tours and full-day, hands-on workshops. These visitors come from rehabilitation hospitals and mental health settings, group homes, halfway houses, drug recovery centers, and more recently, community service centers for those who have AIDS. …
Notwithstanding the axiom that all audiences are special, and the truism that every individual deserves your best teaching efforts, there are segments of your community that require special attention. The reasons for this may be related to the purpose of their visit, their level of awareness or understanding, the preparation …