John Veverka & Associates

Introduction to Heritage Interpretation - eLIVE
14 Units - 2 CEU credits.

Are you ready for e-LIVE interpretive training?  JVA is pleased to announce the development of the forth of several e-Live interpretive training courses being developed and offered by Professor  John Veverka.  

This is a University level introductory course to the heritage interpretation profession for any individual finding themselves working in interpretation but having had no formal training in it, or wanting to change careers to heritage interpretation and want a basic understanding of interpretive principles, philosophy, theory and methods.  This is the same "introduction to Interpretation" course I taught for several years at Michigan State University, and teach in my residential interpretive training courses today.

Who is this course for:

- Any individual being assigned to an interpretive position with an agency or organization but
 have had no formal university level training or courses in heritage interpretation.

- Park, Museum. zoo, botanical garden, heritage site interpretive/education staff.

- Any individual desiring to enter the interpretive profession from some other career profession.

- Museum, park, zoo, historic site docents or volunteers assigned to or interested in  interpretive program
 delivery tasks.

- Landscape architects, historians, park planners and other professionals occasionally working on
 interpretive projects and desire a basic understanding of what interpretation actually is.

- Professionals developing interpretive media who have had no formal training in interpretive
 communications design (just because you call it "interpretive" doesn't mean that it is!).

- Professional tour guides desiring to acquire additional public program and tour interpretive
 planning and presentation skills.

Course Goals: Upon completion of this course participants will:

- Have a working knowledge of Tilden's Interpretive Principles.
- Have a working knowledge of the Model of Interpretation.
- Will have developed proficiency in:

  * Developing and writing interpretive themes.
  * Developing and writing interpretive objectives (learn, feel, do).
  * Develop skills in understanding how visitors learn and remember in heritage
     settings.
  * Develop a solid understanding of the interpretive planning process for live/conducted
     interpretive walks, tours or programs.
  * Acquire practical applications of interpretive program and tour presentation skills.
  * Being able to use the interpretive planning model for planning/developing interpretive
     media  to include: interpretive panels, interpretive exhibits, audio interpretation media,
     self-guiding media.
  *  Basics of interpretive writing.
  * Simple techniques for evaluation (self-evaluation) of interpretive programs and
              services you present.


About the Instructor: Prof. John Veverka

- B.S and M.S in Heritage Interpretation - The Ohio State University
- Ph.D. program in Interpretation at Michigan State University.  Taught introductory and advanced
 interpretation courses at MSU for 5 years.
- Adjunct Professor Heritage Interpretation (summer heritage tourism institutes) North Carolina State
 University, New York State University.
- NAI Certified Interpretive Planner and Trainer
- NAI Fellow
- Certified Professional Heritage Interpreter (Canada).
- Author of several interpretive planning/training college text books.
- Publisher of InterpNEWS - the International Heritage Interpretation e-Magazine.
- 40 years of interpretive planning, training and writing experience.

How does e-LIVE work?  Our e-LIVE courses are limited to 10 participants at one time, to allow for maximum interaction with the course instructor.  Once one participant completes the course another participant can be added.

As part of the course you will receive e-book copies of John's college textbook Two Volume Set:

    *Interpretive Master Planning - Strategies for the New Millennium
    * Interpretive Master Planning - Philosophy, Theory and Practice.

- You'll also given course content materials to read and interact with for each unit.

- JVA will provide you with other additional readings, text books and articles as part of the course.

- You'll be given a writing assignment for each unit which you'll send to John for review, comments and coaching.  You'll be able to talk with John about each assignment via SKYPE, or by e-mail or phone.  Thus the e-LIVE opportunity.  John will be your instructor and interpretive coach who you can talk with at any time about your assignments and your personal goals.

- When you've completed each course unit you'll be sent the next unit for the course.  Again, you'll be given new assignments for that unit to submit to John  for review, comments and coaching if needed.

- When you've completed the 13 course Units you'll be awarded a Certificate of Completion and 2 CEU (Continuing Education Unit) credits.

The estimated completion time of the course is about 20 hours - and you can work at your own pace.

The Introduction to Heritage Interpretation Course Units Include:

Unit 1 - How visitors learn and remember in a recreational learning environment.

Unit 2 - Ten Learning Concepts interpreters need to know, understand  and relate to.

Unit 3 - Definitions, Theories and Objectives of  Interpretation.   

Unit 4 - What makes the communication process "Interpretive" - a review of Tilden's Interpretive
           Principles.

Unit 5 - The model of interpretive communications (we use it for planning any/all interpretive programs, services or activities).

Unit 6 - Developing interpretive program/services and media objectives.

Unit 7 - Story analysis and developing interpretive themes.

Unit 8 - Understanding your visitors - who are they, what do they hope to gain from your program or interpretive services?  Maslow's Hierarchy  of Needs.  Developing a quick visitor profile and analysis.

Unit 9 - Interpretive media options to consider for your program/activity delivery.

Unit 10 - Visitor motivations for selecting and attending interpretive programs - interpretive
           research review

Unit 11 - Live Interpretive Program/tour delivery planning:  Developing your interpretive
            program planning form and check list.  Introductions, body and conclusions.

Unit 12 - Using tangibles, intangibles and universal concepts in your interpretive presentation
             to better relate to your visitors.

Unit 13 - Self evaluation check list.  How do you know you accomplished your objectives?

Unit 14 - what's next - professional organizations, conferences, books and courses.  What's your game plan for using the knowledge and skills you gained in this course to keep learning more, and sharing your skills with others?

This Course is ready to go. .  You'll be able to pay for the course below
via credit card or Pay Pal. You can also pay by check.

Cost for the 20 hours training with live interaction with the instructor is $150.00 USD.

If you're interested in this course and would like to enroll in it - send an e-mail to John at: jvainterp@aol.com. Then you can return to this web site page to pay for the course using the BUY NOW button below.

Feel free to contact John if you have any questions at all.

Contact John at:
jvainterp@aol.com
Skype: jvainterp