Interpretation Training
Monday, November 18th
Hybrid in-person/online at the West Virginia Wood Technology Center (10 11th St, Elkins, WV 26241)
Agenda:
9:30am–10:40am:
Joe Obidzinski (Program Coordinator – History and Heritage, WVU Extension)
Introduction to Interpretation
10:45am—11:55am:
Dave Vago (Supervisory Museum Curator – Thomas Edison National Historical Park)
Interpretive Planning, Part I: Museum, Site, and Program Planning
Interpretive Planning, Part II: Project Development and Management
12:00pm—12:55pm:
Lunch
1:00pm—2:10pm:
Katie Thompson (William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences, WVU)
Part I – Research Methodology for Interpretation Projects
Part II – Tours and Personal Interpretation
2:15pm—3:25pm:
Danielle Petrak (Watts Museum, WVU)
Part I – Writing for Non-personal Interpretation
Part II – Concept Development and Design
3:30pm—4:30pm:
Q&A Panel Discussion with Joe, Danielle, and Dave
Interpreting difficult topics and other Q&A
Presenter info:
Joe Obidzinski
Joe Obidzinski is the Program Coordinator for History and Heritage at West Virginia University's Jackson's Mill, where oversees the development and presentation of historic programming, preservation, and interpretation at the site. Joe earned his MA in History from WVU with a focus on Public HIstory, Interpretation and Nineteenth Century America--focused particularly on the Civil War Era.
Joe’s presentation will offer an overview on the principles of interpretation, including how interpretation is critical to the work of every site; whether that site is focused on nature, heritage, history, or a combination. He will also discuss some trends and concepts for how interpretation can help your site shape their thinking on how to connect their visitors with their site. He will also offer a number of suggestions of materials which can aid sites in their efforts to develop, enhance, or improve their interpretation in all areas.
Dave Vago
Dave Vago supervises the curatorial and archival staff at Thomas Edison National Historical Park, and has been a museum and nonprofit planner, exhibit designer, program coordinator, and consultant for more than 20 years. His subject interest and expertise lies in industrial history, transportation, and historic workplaces, and he holds a BS in Architecture from the University of Maryland and a MS in Industrial Archeology from Michigan Tech.
The first part of Dave’s presentation will use images and graphics to review some of the most essential processes and concerns for planning and design of museums, historic sites, and interpretive programs. For the second part of his presentation, Dave will facilitate a conversation with the audience around his experience working with contracts and various kinds of organizations and personalities in carrying out project development and management in interpretation and interpretive settings.
Katie Thompson
Dr. Kathleen Thompson is the Curator of the William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences at West Virginia University. Prior to her current position she served as a Preserve WV AmeriCorps member for three years, led tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, and taught history at several colleges and universities. She earned her PhD in Nineteenth Century/Civil War America from West Virginia University, and also holds a M.A. from WVU and a B.A. from Siena College.
Part I -- It is important to keep your museum’s interpretation aligned with current scholarship and updated to give your visitors the best informational experience. This session will cover the importance of current research to museums and historic sites, historiography and why our idea of history seems to change over time, and best practices of research to bring to your public history work.
Part II -- Tours are a staple of museum and site interpretation, but is your tour getting your information across and engaging your visitors in a meaningful experience? Unorganized or unfocused tours can be confusing or uninteresting to visitors and purely scripted tours don’t often inspire repeat visitation. This session will cover creating a theme and narrative to tie your entire tour together, strategies for writing tours, dos and don'ts of tour interpretation, and tips for engaging with visitors.
Danielle Petrak
Danielle Petrak is the curator of the Watts Museum at West Virginia University, where she has also taught an exhibition development course in the Public History MA program. Danielle earned her PhD in History from WVU with her research focusing on the interpretation and exhibition of coal mining history at museums and historic sites in Central Appalachia.
The first part of Danielle’s presentation will offer tips for writing clear and effective exhibit panels, object labels, and other written interpretive content. For the second part of her presentation, Danielle will discuss her approach to the conceptual development of interpretive exhibits, as well as design fundamentals that help enhance the visual quality and overall cohesiveness of exhibits and displays.
