Evaluating Interpretive Exhibits
| Instructor: | John Veverka |
|---|---|
| Course Date: | September 5, 2022 |
| Cost: | $400 |
Exhibits are one of the most expensive of interpretive media we use, and yet one of the media that we often really don't know if "it works". We judge exhibits by their appearance rather than by their success in accomplishing meaningful objectives. We like to ask
-if you spend $10,000.00 on your exhibits, how will you determine if you're receiving $10,000.00 in benefits from those exhibits? That's usually when we get the "deer in the headlights" stare.
It is the goal of this course to give you some simple tools for doing evaluations of, or critiquing exhibits. Some tools for critiquing
existing exhibits - to see if they are accomplishing their objectives and may be in need of rehabilitation, and some
for pre-post testing evaluation of exhibits first being designed to see if they are accomplishing their objectives prior to final construction so they can be "fixed" to be more effective.
Learn more about this course from the instructor John Veverka in this video introduction.
- Course Goals
- Understand and be able to utilize the Interpretive Exhibit Planning Outline.
- Develop their skills in developing an interpretive exhibit plan.
- Understand exhibit contracting needs - what should be in a Request for Proposal in selecting an exhibit planning and design firm.
- Be able to conduct an exhibit interpretive communication evaluation (existing exhibits).
- Understand how to conduct an exhibit pre-post test evaluation before exhibit construction is finalized.
- Understand that exhibits need to be cost effective - i.e. for a $20k exhibit project will you be able to document that you will receive, over the life of the exhibits, $20k in benefits?
- Be more involved and focused on the details of exhibit project management.
You should complete this course with a general understanding of heritage interpretation. In four weeks we can not possibly cover every situation that one could encounter in heritage interpretation, but we hope to give you the tools and resources to figure out issues that arise. The main goal of this course then is to introduce you to the most essential methodology and resources.
Participant Outcomes
Participants will:
Too learn more about taking an online professional development course with Museum Study visit What is involved in taking a Museum Study course?
Evaluating Interpretive Exhibits addresses the American Association for State and Local History's Audience and Interpretation Standards.
Comments from participants:
Although the course content shared is quite extensive, the assignments' guidelines I feel are workable for 4 weeks course. And at the end I'm able to understand what evaluating exhibits entails.