ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (1939-1991) instituted an enhanced volunteer program in 1983 (although volunteers had always been used since the beginning). Although an exclusively volunteer floor staff was considered, this did not prove practical.

I operated a successful volunteer program for Buhl Planetarium's Astronomical Observatory from 1986 through 1991. I found that some very reliable volunteers can be attracted to certain specific programs (such as the Observatory, or a Chick-Hatching Exhibit which I also managed).

Buhl Planetarium (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center) designed a staff manual, in 1983, to assist volunteers as well as paid staff members. You can review this staff manual at this link:

< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/BuhlAidesbook.htm#Aidesbook1983 >

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
  < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://incline.pghfree.net >
* Public Transit:
  < http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >


--- On Wed, 11/25/09, Regina Hall <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Regina Hall <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Training Volunteers to be effective exhibit facilitators
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 11:54 AM
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
> related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Hi Megan,
> 
> Please include me in this conversation.  
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Regina 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Megan Gray
> Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:35 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Training Volunteers to be effective exhibit
> facilitators
> 
> Our institution has an all volunteer exhibit floor staff
> (exhibit
> explaining and general information).  We recognize the
> special needs,
> benefits, and challenges volunteers (vs. paid staff) bring
> to this role.
> Without regular, trained, experienced, floor staff
> available to train,
> model, and evaluate volunteers in this role, volunteers
> have relied on
> mostly content information resources and other volunteers
> (many of whom
> have scientific backgrounds and experience versus
> educational
> background, especially in the area of
> pedagogy).   While we have lots of
> formal expertise in the community, we feel this sort of
> didactic/information-focused approach is not as effective
> with our young
> learners in our informal environment.  Therefore, we
> have developed and
> implemented a new training approach for exhibit volunteers
> that focuses
> on:
> 
> 
> 1)      Building rapport with visitors and
> tuning into their needs
> 
> 2)      Creating a safe and inviting
> environment for exploration and
> inquiry
> 
> 3)      Using effective questioning
> strategies and unique "hooks" to
> engage and inspire
> 
> I am looking to collaborate with fellow Volunteer and/or
> Program
> Managers who lead their institution's volunteer explainers.
> I'd love to
> share our new training outline with others and discuss best
> practices
> and strategies for training  our volunteers to be
> successful with our
> visitors.
> 
> Megan Gray
> Manager of Volunteer Services
> Chabot Space & Science Center
> ph: (510) 336-7414
> fax: (510) 336-7491
> www.chabotspace.org<http://www.chabotspace.org/>
> 
> Stay Close, Go Far!
> P Please consider the environment before deciding to print
> this e-mail.
> 
> 
> Secrets of Egypt:  Now open through January 3, 2010
> Explore the secrets of Egypt with our new exhibit, Lost
> Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science, and the companion
> OMNIMAX film, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs.
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please
> visit www.astc.org.
> 
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on
> ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
> 
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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