For those of you who missed the great Docent Enrichment with Mike Merritt on Monday, here are the notes from his presentation. Please use this blog to post comments and create discussion about this wonderful content. I’ll also be posting notes from our small break-out groups. We really look forward to having some online conversations about these topics. And continuing to build our skills as educators and interpreters!
Docent Enrichment – March 2012
Presentation by Mike Merritt, Interpretive Ranger at Ano Nuevo State Park
Beyond the Information: Using Interpretive Techniques
Theme of this talk: There is more to interpretation than information
4 principles of professional interpretation: M.O.R.E. (each should have equal representation)
M. – Main Message (have a strong story/theme to work from)
- Base your program around a theme such as: “The Ohlone used native plants for everyday survival” (versus a topic, such as: “Plants”, is too broad)
- A theme helps visitors connect to our programs, gives a purpose (vs. conversation has no “purpose”).
- Fill in the blank with the theme, “After hearing my presentation, I want my audience to understand that ______”
O. – Organized
- Plan your presentation and don’t plan too much (beware of information overload)
- A magic number of points to make…5 +/- 2 (with little kids 3 is good)
- Have your audience understand these at the end of the program (and repeat them)
R. – Relevant
- Make it meaningful = what they know about (avoid technical terms, go for analogies, examples and metaphors instead)
- And personal = what they care about (what evokes emotion)
- What is personal to adults? Family, health, quality of life
- What is personal to kids? What’s cool, socially acceptable, cute, or related to the movie they saw last week
E. – Enjoyable
- Not the main goal, but a necessary ingredient
- Use humor, music, smile, change scene, movement, games, link to history, personification
Mike’s top 5 things you can do to be an amazing interpreter:
- Organize the group – teach them how you want to get their attention at the beginning
- Be cool, dude – do things kids will like (yoga, use a map, have a parade)
- Use simple props – visuals help focus
- Try something new every time – to challenge and satisfy yourself
- Deliver a conclusion – make it magical, ask what they learned, ask them to share one word that described their experience
Please pass on a to Mike Merritt that was a great workshop and I put it into practice this morning with an Ohlone session for 3rd graders from Happy Valley School.
I wanted my audience to understand how getting something to eat for the Ohlones was different than it is today.
Main Message: Ohlone worked all day getting food — gathering, hunting, fishing, preparing.
I started out asking “Who had cereal for breakfast?” That led to acorn mush. How to cook it in a basket.
Then moved to deer, duck, gathering berries, shellfish, etc. to go with the mush. Continually referred to the mural.
My conclusion was going around the room and asking each child what food they would choose and how they would obtain it. They came up with deer jerky, clam soup, salmon.
This is the first time I have been well organized. It was so much better than trying to go through all the artifacts. Every child participated and it was FUN!
Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
I agree with Nancy that the workshop was really good and well organized. It will help me improving my future docent activities. Kudos to you Nancy for doing such a wonderful job!
Thank you Deb for writing up the presentation notes. They are a great reminder and refresher of the material.
I also wanted to tell my fellow docents that you are inspiring role models and that I am grateful for your talents and your support!
that was fantastic how you kept the main idea going, weaving it throughout, and then ending with the kids making a choice of what Ohlone food they would eat, no….choose, obtain , and prepare……wow that’s A+ interpretation…..with total involvement and connnection with the audience ….and they are 3rd graders actually making menu choices ( with preparation ideas) from the Ohlone natural supermarket pictured in the mural. I wish I was there to see it ….Ohlone Room LIve!…mayber we should have an docent observation system in place where someone watch what ourgreat docents are doing and share one or two of their unique and powerful ideas with the rest of us who love to hear new ideas that we could add to our own programs….
I’m inspired….
Greg Kolar