CONNECT 4 – The Interpretive Equation in Four Easy Sessions

Interpretive Equation 4 Part Webinar Training

Length: 4x 1 hour web-based presentations Recommended audience: 4-20 persons Delivered via: Zoom, Google Meets For a well-rounded training experience for heritage interpreters and museum programmers, consider this package. You’ll not only get the two presentations above, but also special guest presenter Kevin Baron will add two more. The National Parks Service of the US uses this equation to break down training into four components:

(KA + KR) x AT = IO

KA is Knowledge of the Audience, KR is Knowledge of the Resource, AT is Appropriate Techniques, and IO is Interpretive Opportunities.
  1. Knowledge of the Audience: What are they doing here? Knowing the visitor in living history A short presentation based around the concept of the “interpretive equation” as an approach to providing excellent communications and service to your audience, whether in a museum or any other undertaking. This presentation will answer the questions: “who is our audience and why do they come to us?” and “how can we connect our goals with theirs?” while providing examples of specific strategies and approaches to audience engagement. Presented by Kevin Baron.
  2. Knowledge of the Resource: STRATHCategories and the Fine Art of Research for Interpreters Interpreters are a trusted source, and we must strive to be worthy of that trust. This webinar will take participants through a range of research practices and resources, including primary, secondary, and tertiary sources as well as the importance of creative experiential research. Participants will participate in two activities and be given a research plan outline at the conclusion. This webinar is based on the National Association of Interpretation’s curriculum for the Certified Interpretive Guide course. Presented by Tom Long.
  3. Appropriate Techniques: But how do you do it? ‘Appropriate techniques’ in living history interpretation. A short presentation based around the concept of the “interpretive equation” as an approach to providing excellent communications and service to your audience, whether in a museum or any other undertaking. This presentation will answer the questions, “what is an interpretive technique?”, “what is brain-based learning?”, and “how can we engage the senses of our audience?” while providing concrete examples and activities to try. Presented by Kevin Baron.
  4. Interpretive Opportunities: Everyone’s a Critic – Evaluating Interpretive Programs. Professional sports teams constantly review video of their games in order to reach the next level of greatness and there’s no reason interpreters shouldn’t do the same. This webinar will use that same principle to engage participants with evaluating several different interpretive programs, equipping them to better self-evaluate in the future. Participants will learn NAI’s POETRY model of program evaluation and put it into practice so that every program can strive to be purposeful, organized, enjoyable, thematic, relevant, and reflect your site’s values and strengths. This webinar is based on the National Association of Interpretation’s curriculum for the Certified Interpretive Guide course. Presented by Tom Long.
Tom Long is a Public Programmer who specializes in Living History villages and creative ways to engage the public. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Canadian History from the University of Alberta, and training from the National Association of Interpretation, Museum Hack, the Disney Institute, and the Alberta Museums Association. Kevin Baron is a museum educator and interpreter with eleven years of experience in the field, including as supervisor and trainer. He has been a Senior Interpreter with Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village since 2014. Before that he was an interpreter for the City of Edmonton (Fort Edmonton Park and John Walter Museum), the Alberta Protocol Office (Government House), and Alberta Parks. He has a B.A. in History from MacEwan University, is a Certified Interpretive Guide recognized by the National Association for Interpretation (U.S.A.), is in the process of qualifying as a Certified Interpretive Trainer, and is nerdily obsessed with interpretive training. Please contact us using the form below to inquire about this series of webinars.