Posing Questions That Engage the Visitor: A Hands-On Interactive Workshop – Bev Biderman and Elizabeth Evans – Textile Museum of Canada Notes We had 63 participants and wanted to split them into 12 small groups. As they entered we gave each person a piece of coloured yarn and they looked…

                                                    MFA Boston School Vacation Week Family Tours  October 4, 2011: National Docent Symposium Ritz-Carlton Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri   1:45 – 2:45pm 4d. Family…

  Mentoring presentation National Docent Symposium, St. Louis October 4, 2011   We believe the mentor is an important element of the docent class. The mentors are someone in whom a future docent can confide and from whom they can learn a great deal of unwritten information.   They help…

  Presenter # 1 Susan Steinway Theme: Conceptual Art   The big question: Why is that art? Try to find out why asking the question – what makes you think it isn’t art? Not trying to be facetious or teacherly but to establish what it is about the piece that…

DOCENTS CONNECT is an independent nonprofit association initiated by docents from the Vancouver Art Gallery. Our purpose is to provide opportunities for volunteer educators to learn about programs at a wide variety of venues. Meeting other docents to discuss challenges and successes is an important goal. In 2004 we began…

  This BIG IDEAS WORKBOOK is a simple and practical way to gather some great “BIG IDEAS” from the National Docent Symposium (NDS); then by using the tools provided in this workbook, translate those inspired ideas into a practical plan that can be implemented within your museum and/or your community…

  SJMA Docent Council Comparison of Tour Strategies Object-Oriented Discovery Strategy Visual Thinking Slow down—Really look. Choose a Focus. Ask questions about: materials OR scale OR composition OR subject … What is the first thing you noticed? Point it out, paraphrase, ask for clarification. (Go with majority consensus.) What is…

  ARCHITECTURE ARTMAKING (Grades 3-5) ART-MAKING OUTLINE   GOAL: Students will create their own building/artwork…… and have fun!                              *Main Architecture Art-Making Idea: Buildings don’t have to be box-shaped.   Location: Classroom, Lower Level of North  …

  Developing Multi-sensory Tours: Tips and Ideas   The Art Gallery of Ontario has been developing multi-sensory tours for visitors who are blind or with vision loss since the fall of 2009. These tours have become a highlight of visitors’ experience and a fountain of knowledge for gallery guides. Starting…

  National Docent Symposium 2011 Currents in Museum Education: Gateway to the Best St. Louis Art Museum October 2-5, 2011 Proposal for Breakout Session Interactive Videoconferences: Gateway to a Larger Museum Audience  Presenters Phoebe Kline, Smithsonian American Art Museum docent Carol Wilson, Assistant Chair of Education, Smithsonian American Art Museum…

  Greater Philadelphia Area Docent Consortium Ten Steps for Creating a Regional Docent Group National Docent Symposium 2011- St. Louis     1. Origins Docents coordinated visits to local cultural institutions at the 1999 National Docent Symposium in Philadelphia For the 1999 National Docent Symposium meeting in Philadelphia, a group…