As I’ve been learning German this past month, I’ve come to a realization: Getting visitors to participate and contribute in can be a lot like asking them to learn another language. There are five general stages to learning a second language: The Silent Period – You have a small receptive vocabulary of words and ideas,…
When it comes to writing labels, I like to take my time. I’ve been in the meetings where it takes hours (not recommended, btw) to decide on border color and font size. I’ve worked for days and (sometimes) weeks, revising and refining language to write the perfect paragraph. But I’ve also printed out slapdash signs…
While doing some research today, I came across the Wihelma Zoo and Botanic Garden and I’m fangirl-ing over their self-guided tour resources. Not only do they provide tour suggestions based on specific interests (plants, aquatic life, etc.), they also have tours based on visitors’ needs. Is it raining? Here’s a tour to stay dry. Do you need…
Earlier this summer, I conducted a short visitor survey that included basic demographic information. As I interviewed a couple whom I perceived to be a man and a woman, I asked them their zip codes, age ranges, and gender. At that last question, the individual I had initially read as male responded, Can I say…
In my spare time (hah!), I occasionally write for Persephone Magazine, “a daily blog for bookish and clever women.” I adore many things about PM, but one of my favorites is Elvis. And what is Elvis (other than a hunka hunka burnin’ love)? Elvis is the magazine’s commenting criteria. From the PM website: Empathy – are…
Museums Askew 