Tour Guiding Interpretation

Interpretation – what is it? “ An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than simply to communicate factual information.” Freeman Tilden – Interpreting Our Heritage

“ An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than simply to communicate factual information.”

Freeman Tilden – Interpreting Our Heritage

Interpretation – what is it? interpretation is… an explanation of the natural, cultural or historic values attached to places. It enables visitors to gain insights and understanding about the reasons for conservation and ongoing protection of heritage According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation

interpretation is… an explanation of the natural, cultural or historic values attached to places. It enables visitors to gain insights and understanding about the reasons for conservation and ongoing protection of heritage

According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation

Principles of Interpretation Interpretation should be meaningful for the audience , it should provoke curiosity, attention and interest and educate To do this the interpretation must relate in some way to the participants personality and/or experience

Interpretation should be meaningful for the audience , it should provoke curiosity, attention and interest and educate

To do this the interpretation must relate in some way to the participants personality and/or experience

The Audience Interpretive audiences are special – why? They are participating of their own free will In their own time They want to see something in a new way They are seeking inspiration and recreation

Interpretive audiences are special – why?

They are participating of their own free will

In their own time

They want to see something in a new way

They are seeking inspiration and recreation

Principles of Interpretation Information is only a part of the interpretation. It should enlighten the audience and involve all the senses and styles of learning For example Information (facts) The Southern Alps have formed along a tectonic plate boundary and are eroded by weather. The erosion rate and the uplift rate are very similar…

Information is only a part of the interpretation. It should enlighten the audience and involve all the senses and styles of learning

For example

Information (facts)

The Southern Alps have formed along a tectonic plate boundary and are eroded by weather. The erosion rate and the uplift rate are very similar…

Principles of Interpetation Interpretation (revelation ) Colliding plates on the earth’s surface created the Southern Alps. Just as when you push two pieces of paper together they buckle, fold and rise, so does the earth. Weather is working to slow the rise of the mountains, by tearing away at them with wind, rain and snow. As much as the Southern Alps get pushed up each year, the weather wears them back down again so they stay a fairly constant height.

Interpretation (revelation )

Colliding plates on the earth’s surface created the Southern Alps. Just as when you push two pieces of paper together they buckle, fold and rise, so does the earth. Weather is working to slow the rise of the mountains, by tearing away at them with wind, rain and snow. As much as the Southern Alps get pushed up each year, the weather wears them back down again so they stay a fairly constant height.

Principles of Interpretation Interpretation contains many forms of art. The materials may be scientific, historical or architectural (all of which can be taught) However interpretation should stimulate, provoke and inspire How?

Interpretation contains many forms of art.

The materials may be scientific, historical or architectural (all of which can be taught)

However interpretation should stimulate, provoke and inspire

How?

How? By Being relevant and interactive Satisfying visitor curiosity Creating meaning Providing entertainment Provoking thought

By

Being relevant and interactive

Satisfying visitor curiosity

Creating meaning

Providing entertainment

Provoking thought

Principles of Interpretation Interpretation should aim to present and appeal to the whole It should encompass everything about the receiver not just a phase or part

Interpretation should aim to present and appeal to the whole

It should encompass everything about the receiver not just a phase or part

Essentials of Interpretation The Message(s) These relate to the theme or general topic Natural care for the environment Cultural preservation of the language The Message Must relate to the specific audience and their characteristics

The Message(s)

These relate to the theme or general topic

Natural care for the environment

Cultural preservation of the language

The Message

Must relate to the specific audience and their characteristics

Essentials of Interpretation The Message Must be appropriate to the setting and context in which the interpretation is taking place Setting site or place where interpretation is being held Context reason or background to interpretation

The Message

Must be appropriate to the setting and context in which the interpretation is taking place

Setting site or place where interpretation is being held

Context reason or background to interpretation

Essentials of Interpretation Techniques The methods used to communicate the ideas and feelings They should encompass all learning styles They should help the message to provoke change if necessary

Techniques

The methods used to communicate the ideas and feelings

They should encompass all learning styles

They should help the message to provoke change if necessary

Different types of interpretation Guided tour Guide takes group on a tour and offers interpretation Point duty Interpretation at a specific point. Effective way of managing large group of visitors in a limited time frame Roving Interpretation Moving about to where events are happening and visitors are found

Guided tour

Guide takes group on a tour and offers interpretation

Point duty

Interpretation at a specific point. Effective way of managing large group of visitors in a limited time frame

Roving Interpretation

Moving about to where events are happening and visitors are found

Different types of interpretation Presentations Talk, static or moving Visual presentation or audio recording Demonstrations Showing how something is done, usually involves the audience Living history Living portrayal or characters or events includes dress, dialect, objects or artefacts and acting

Presentations

Talk, static or moving

Visual presentation or audio recording

Demonstrations

Showing how something is done, usually involves the audience

Living history

Living portrayal or characters or events includes dress, dialect, objects or artefacts and acting

Different types of interpretation Interactive Engaging an audience with the interpreter or some device or resource Lecture or talk Oral presentation usually with visual aids Drama Using theatre to provide the interpretation – role plays, theatre sports, puppets

Interactive

Engaging an audience with the interpreter or some device or resource

Lecture or talk

Oral presentation usually with visual aids

Drama

Using theatre to provide the interpretation – role plays, theatre sports, puppets

Different types of Interpretation Non personal Print Brochures, books, posters Self guiding Programmes, signs, interpretive panels, use of audio tapes Exhibits Displays, collections, museums and galleries

Non personal

Print

Brochures, books, posters

Self guiding

Programmes, signs, interpretive panels, use of audio tapes

Exhibits

Displays, collections, museums and galleries

Different types of Interpretation Non Personal Visitor Centres Combination of media, displays, guides etc Museum Paintings, sculptures, buildings – through the use of objects

Non Personal

Visitor Centres

Combination of media, displays, guides etc

Museum

Paintings, sculptures, buildings – through the use of objects

Different types of interpretation Audio Visual Devices Media repeater A recording at a specific site providing information Portable media player MP3, CD player, audio tour Closed Circuit TV Audio visual presentation

Audio Visual Devices

Media repeater

A recording at a specific site providing information

Portable media player

MP3, CD player, audio tour

Closed Circuit TV

Audio visual presentation

Different types of interpretation Audio Visual Devices Computer Audience can interact with software Laser Disc Visual media with audio input (DVD) Video Film support or demonstration Slideshow Power point or photographic slides

Audio Visual Devices

Computer

Audience can interact with software

Laser Disc

Visual media with audio input (DVD)

Video

Film support or demonstration

Slideshow

Power point or photographic slides

Different types of interpretation Interactive Media Observation Hides Camouflaged places used to observe activities Information Poles Visual and audio material activated by those wanting to see and listen

Interactive Media

Observation Hides

Camouflaged places used to observe activities

Information Poles

Visual and audio material activated by those wanting to see and listen

Interpretation - Personal Nature Walk Strengths Person to person communication Can ask questions and get answer Can be easily adapted, updated and changed

Nature Walk

Strengths

Person to person communication

Can ask questions and get answer

Can be easily adapted, updated and changed

Interpretation - Personal Nature walk Weakness Tour must move at the pace of the speaker Difficult for hearing impaired Language barrier

Nature walk

Weakness

Tour must move at the pace of the speaker

Difficult for hearing impaired

Language barrier

Interpretation – Non Personal Audio Tour Strengths Expert commentary Detailed descriptions Self-paced

Audio Tour

Strengths

Expert commentary

Detailed descriptions

Self-paced

Interpretation – Non Personal Audio Tour Weaknesses Cannot ask questions Requires some technical expertise to set up Difficult for hearing impaired Isolating

Audio Tour

Weaknesses

Cannot ask questions

Requires some technical expertise to set up

Difficult for hearing impaired

Isolating

Interpretation – Non Personal Signs Strengths Can be translated into all languages Can be indoors or outside Can be utalised at own pace

Signs

Strengths

Can be translated into all languages

Can be indoors or outside

Can be utalised at own pace

Interpretation Signs Weaknesses Can be damaged Can be expensive Questions cannot be answered

Signs

Weaknesses

Can be damaged

Can be expensive

Questions cannot be answered