Mobile applications, augmented reality, interactive devices... digital tools are omnipresent in science centres and museums. This presents challenges, but it can also provide opportunities. Human facilitation cannot continue in the same way as it has previously. The issues concern facilitators and programme developers just as much as managers of science centres and museums.
This reverse session will explore the issues that institutions with new and existing digital practices have. After a brief introduction by each speaker, participants will share their own questions and relevant practices, with input from current research helping to guide the discussion.
Facilitator
Session speakers
Head of Operation Department
Copernicus Science Center
Warszawa
Poland
Marta will show how Copernicus animators see themselves and their role in a changing envionment. Inspired by the seminar with prof. Dor Abrahamson, she will share answers from explainers about their goal and also the different facilitation methods, especially when there is assistance or moderation with digital tools within an exhibit.
Programme developer
NEMO Science Museum
Amsterdam
Netherlands
As a programme developer in NEMO Science Museum, Hiljanne will share her experience with various digital tools and how these impact on the interaction between visitors and explainers. She will focus on how they use a ‘digital explainer’ (a video or an explainer, instead of the actual live explainer) in one of NEMO programmes. How do visitors respond to this, and how do their explainers ? What are the pro’s and cons ?
Supervisor Guest Services
Heilbronn
Germany
Since re-opening, most parts of Experimenta exhibits are now digitized and offer a “digital backpack” and digitally guided tours. Christian will share the questions recently raised : Is the job of explainers about to change to fit the visitor´s needs in the future? Are digital devices and tools about to replace the classic explainer? Or the more digital elements and virtual reality experiences you have, the more the explainer has to help our visitors? How do we provide the needed assistance for visitors?