#PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WHEN U FEEL SCARE OR FRIGHTEN HOW TO#
Learn how to use the knowledge you have as a tool to create curiosity and engagement. When you are about to start sharing something, consider the following questions:ĭoes your expert art historical knowledge guarantee a memorable or rewarding experience for your visitors or could it actually be detracting from their own personal insights?ĭoes your information provide a jumping-off point for group dialogue or actually shut down new insights from the participants?Īny information you share should be there to further the discussion. Any information should be shared in small amounts throughout the discussion. If your programme is one where participants expect you to share appropriate knowledge, think about how and when you share it. You can create meaningful discussion-based programmes with and without information. That your group will somehow miss out from receiving the information you can provide for them.Not true. Where do I share my knowledge? There is a common misconception that leading dialogue-based or inquiry-led sessions about art and artefacts prevents you from adequately sharing your knowledge. Yes, you will feel naked without your script the first time you lead a session that is more discussion-based than walk-and-talk, but with practice it will get easier and it will be more rewarding. Familiarity brings confidence and practice will help you to deliver the session in a natural and flexible way. Try to think like that one person who always tries to ask challenging questions to the facilitator (i.e. Prepare responses to anticipated questions. Learn the organisation and order of your session. The golden rule with any discussion-based programme is practice, practice, practice. It can be difficult to change to a new way of working but stick with it and the rewards are plentiful. Think of yourself as a ‘guide-on-the-side’ rather than the ‘sage-on-the-stage’. There is also nothing worse than being in the same spot, saying the same thing at the same time. If you memorise what you want to say or repeat words from a script, all this does is make your delivery sound impersonal (and in some cases, robotic). You’re used to having that ‘security blanket’ of a script to fall back on when you are on tour or leading educational programmes in museums and heritage sites. Maybe you’re worried that your mind will go blank or you won’t know what to say. Lectures and traditional-style walk-and-talk tours are outdated. And no-one can concentrate for more than a few minutes when someone is ‘transmitting’ information at them, no matter how good the delivery is. People want to be able to participate, connect and converse with you and the artwork/object you are discussing. Perhaps your script isn’t even an official one – it’s just your detailed notes for what you want to say about each artwork or object.
There’s no script to fall back on Sometimes a script is provided by an organisation or company to help their educators and guides lead informative sessions. In this post, I’ve summarised the most common fears and concerns about leading discussion-based programmes that I’ve heard over the last 20 years, along with suggestions for ways to overcome them. Take it one step at a time and with time, practice and guidance, it will get easier (I promise!). However, do remember that any concerns you have are perfectly normal and you’re not alone (we’ve all been there and had to start somewhere). And if you’re about to take your first steps, it might seem really daunting. Leading tours and educational programmes that are based on discussion, inquiry and interaction can be a scary business.
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