The Docent Educator
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4 xWfJffiiifc::: minds in moti The Docent Educator Vol. 2, No. 2j The Quarterly Journal for Dedicated Docents Winter 1992i Interdisciplinary Approaches Using your collection to examine only one subject area in isolation from others can diminish its significance and narrow routes toward stimulating interest. In this issue, we survey several ways that educators have broadened their programming by taking an interdisciplinary approach to teaching. Inside: Reaching Kids Through Literature A Garden as Classroom A Learning Through Art A A Cultural Legacy A Making New Connections A -- minds in motion = Revealing the Spectrum Publisher/Editor Alan Gartenhaus AV egardless of suitability or Such manufactured barriers are Associate Editor circumstance, the traditional modes of artificial and somewhat arbitrary. They Jackie Littleton teaching forged within schools tend to bear little resemblance to the powerful Editorial Assistant dominate education in museums, zoos, confluence of ideas, activities, and forces Molly Dempsey iind other auxiliary educational institutions. that combine to shape and affect For instance, many docents and staff everything in our world. Grapiiic Design educators instruct by lecturing. This Museums tend to reinforce these Shelly Baldwin form of teaching transferred to museums academic divisions when they classify in spite of the profound differences (and themselves as art, or history, or science. minds in motion considerable advantages) that teaching While this form of labeling is considered The Docent Educator © with original works of art, living useful and perhaps even necessary, it East 2011 Eleventh Avenue creatures, architectural treasures, historic need not limit the boundless potential Seattle, WA 98102-4109 USA artifacts, and scientific specimens offer inlierent in tlieir collections. when compared to teaching with Museum collections are most textbooks and blackboards. interesting, and have their greatest Consider, also, the commonly impact, when the full spectnim of their The Docent Educator welcomes accepted practice of teaching "academic implications is revealed. One way to unsolicited articles, announcements, letters to disciplines" in isolation from one communicate a broader r;mge of the editor, general correspondence, and another. This approach dictates that import;ince and value to the visiting advertising inquiries. The views expressed or science is taught during science class, public is to provide them with an imphed in this pubhcation do not necessarily and not during art; art is taught during art interdisciplinary view. represent the official position of the pubUsher, class, and not during science; and so forth. and efforts are made to present a variety of viewpoints for readers' consideration. The Docent Educator is published quarterly. The office and inailing address is: 2011 Eleventh Avenue East Seattle, WA 98102-4109 USA Are you photocopying The Docent Educator is available by The Docent Educator 7 individual and institutional subscripdon. While it is flattering that some museums find the information and ideas No part of this publication may be reproduced, or used in any manner, without presented in Tlie Docent Educator va.\uab\e enough to photocopy and the written consent of the publisher. distribute to their volunteers, they may be sowing the seeds of its undoing. All rights are reserx'ed. Vie Docent Educator is a specialized publication and, as such, is costly to produce. It requires a thriving subscriber base to succeed and continue Cover: There are numerous ways to explore working to professionalize docent teaching. things found in museums, zoos, and gardens. What route might these second graders be It is hoped that institutional subscribers will recognize and support this taking as they discuss this painting housed in urging all to subscribe, collect, and reference the Dallas Museum ofArt? publication's efforts by docents their own, personal copies of Tfie Docent Educator, so that this journal might photo: Nancy Walkup Reynolds remain healthy, strong, and reasonably priced. THE DOCENT EDUCATOR There are several methods of Any endangered species lesson The last part of the lesson might developing an interdisciplinary lesson. should begin with a definition of what involve hypothesizing, or making One is to consider your collection from the term "endangered" means. informed guesses. Learners would make an alternate academic vantage point. In Following this, learners would be shown conjectures about the sources of threats an art museum, for example, a lesson several different animals and/or plants to such diverse life forms living in so could be constructed that looks at the that are endangered. many different climates and terrains. evolution of art from a chemistry The lesson might continue with the Here, the conversation would flow perspective. Such a tour might examine: docent telling learners, "All of these through every discipline, and reveal the the availability and properties of dyes different life forms share the complexity and depth of the problem. and pigments; the qualities and uses of 'endangered' status in common. Using Some responses, like natural selection, adhesive media like egg albumen, oils, your powers of observation and your predator/prey relationships, or the health and acrylics; or differences in the ability to make comparisons, develop a of ecosystems would be fairly "science- characteristics of the metals used to list of everything that's different about oriented." Others, such as the economics create photographic prints. these creatures." of pollution, population and urban In an historic home, this method A wide variety of answers could growth, social customs, and agricultural might result in a tour that explores the follow, depending upon the endangered patterns are the domain of the social form of a building's design from the species presented. They might include: sciences. Still others, like fashion or iVl view of physics and engineering. Or, in some are large, others are small; some approach the subject of aesthetics. a botanical garden, such a lesson might are mammals, others are reptiles or An interdisciplinary approach when shift the focus from botany to art by amphibians; some fly, others walk; some teaching can reveal the full spectrum of examining the visual effects of particular live in warm climates, others in cold; your institution's collection. At the same juxtapositions and arrangements in some live on land, others <ire aquatic; time, it serves to enfranchise the many landscaping, or how hybridization some live among humans, others far different interests and orientations of satisfied a desire for alternate sizes, from civilization: and so forth. your visitors. As an added bonus, an shapes, and colors. Following this, docents might ask interdisciplinary approach can be a fun Another method of developing an learners to interpret, or extract meaning and stimulating way to reinvigorate your interdisciplinary approach is to from, the wide range of differences they own enthusiasm for your institution's incorporate a theme that is broad enough found. Interpretations might range from permanent collection. to enfranchise other disciplines as well as "there are endangered species in all parts the one of primary concern to your of the animal kingdom" to "there are institution. Consider, for example, the threats to life forms in just about all theme of "endangered species" in a zoo environments and geographic areas of Alan Gartenhaus or natural history institution. the world." Publishing Editor The Docent Educator One year (4 quarterly issues) only $20 Two years (8 quarterly issues) only $38 (outside the U.S. , add $4 per year for additional postage) Name Address City/State/Zip Institutional Affiliation New Subscriber Renewal Mail with your check to: The Docetit Educator 201 1 Eleventh Avenue East Seattle, WA 98102-4109 THE DOCENT EDUCATOR I I Reaching Kids Through Literature A..sk most first graders what competition and wins with an exquisite docents from museums of every they'll find in a museum and they'll say — and, obviously, very small — discipline see the museum through the with assurance, "Dinosaurs!" I used to sculpture which astonishes the panel of eyes of their fourth through sixth grade wonder why "nuiseum" equalled "dinosaur" human judges. visitors. Children who have read the for our youngest visitors until I chanced Reading either of these picture story will enjoy finding works by the upon a small, very bright, and infinitely books to a group of 5- to 8- year-olds artists mentioned in the book and will mischievous monkey named George. as they visit the fire engine exhibit in a enthusiastically speculate on the "Curious George" is the principal history museum or the sculpture gallery possibilities of living in the museum they character in a series of books for of an art museum brings these adult are visiting. (Docents might want to primaries. This simiiin alter ego allows exhibits into the children's world. alert Security!) first graders to go places and do things, Reading a story can create a mood, In addition to stories that tiike place and it is with George that many of them introduce an exhibit, or merely provide in museums, docents can enrich their first visit a museum. The monkey's a place to rest for tired little bodies. tours through the use of topical fiction. curiosity demolishes a dinosaur exhibit "Story time," which is already a familiar Excerpts read from any of the Little and gets George kicked out on his and valuable part of their school day, House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, helps demystify the museum experience for example, will put people into historic for first-time visitors. exhibits. Although principally about the ^^Docents can I Museum fiction for older children settling of the American Midwest, these Ciumot, of course, be read in its entirety, books mention artifacts found in most enrich their tours but can be referred to or recommended. history museums and provide excellent through the use Often, someone in the audience will descriptions of the uses of home and have read the book and will be excited to farm implements from our pioneer era.