Historic Southern Indiana

Results from The Fine Art of Interpretation
Evaluation Forms

A.   Dr. Mary Binford Bruner
        excellent            40
        good                   9
        fair                      1
        poor                   1

        Comments:
            --Long

B. The Politics of History in Contemporary America
        excellent        8
        good           20
        fair              14
        poor             3

        Comments:
            --Started earlier than scheduled time
            --Information good--speaker not so
            --Truthful, but boring presentation

C. Beams from the Past
         excellent     7
         good          5
         fair             0
         poor          0

Comments:
--Ended 30 minutes early

D. Me, Myself & I: First Person Character Development
         excellent 18
         good         8
         fair            2
         poor         0

Comments:

E. The Customer is Always Right
         excellent 10
         good       14
         fair            4
         poor         0

Comments:

F. Views from the Past: Teaching History with Art
         excellent    2
         good       11
         fair            9
         poor         6

        Comments:
            --He may have had a point or points but they could have been said quicker and clearer
            --More of an Art History lesson than relation to our uses.
            --5 minutes was long enough

G. Can We Talk?
         excellent   8
         good      12
         fair           0
         poor        0

Comments:
--More examples & scenarios would be helpful

H. Virtual Visits: Distance Learning & Your Institution
         excellent     6
         good        12
         fair             0
         poor          0

Comments:
--Should be repeated

I. Take A Hike
         excellent    7
         good         7
         fair            1
         poor          0

Comments:
--I was disappointed that there was so much more potentially could have been talked about if she had known the site or what to look for here

J. Our Town: Using Your Community as a Form of Interpretation
         excellent   16
         good        12
         fair             3
         poor          0

        Comments:
            --Very interactive! Best!
            --Very personable presenter, fun presentation but he could have said all that in 15 minutes.

K. Let's Get Physical
         excellent   1
         good        7
         fair           0
         poor        0

Comments:

L. A Model for Successful Interpretation
         excellent    36
         good           6
         fair              0
         poor           0

        Comments:
            --We need this at ISM for more staff
            --I'm sorry we didn't hear him Tuesday morning
            --1 hour long enough

M. Here They Come, There They Go
         excellent   2
         good        8
         fair           0
         poor        0

Comments:

N. Connecting the Tangible to the Intangible
         excellent   32
         good          4
         fair             1
         poor           0

        Comments:
            --We need more staff to be exposed to this.
            --Covered much of this in the opening.
            --Needed more time & handouts

O. Your Site & the Community: A Collaborative Effort
         excellent   11
         good          8
         fair             3
         poor           0

Comments:
--Lots of helpful information

Section 3. Scale 1-4 (four being excellent and 1 being poor)

A. Dinner/Dr. Mary Binford Bruner
         (4)     37
         (3)     10
         (2)     2
         (1)     0
         (N/A) 13

        Comments:
            --Excellent performance but was not a topic to reflect on
            --Brooks illustrates what is best in historical presentation/Friedman what is still too common
            --I thought the introduction and closeout for Dr. Binford's speech was poor. Audience needed more prep (I didn't even know where the college is, of if this was a real person) and we needed a closing that gave her accolades and tied her presentation in the power of interpretation and our workshop and to remind people she'll be hosting other sessions
            --Wonderful presentation

B. Keynote Address

         (4)    9
         (3)    25
         (2)    18
         (1)    4
         (N/A)   4

        Comments:
            --Should've had National Park Service guy on Tuesday and Friedman on Wednesday.
            --If the Keynote address was Dr. Friedmann, he was terrific.
            --Very uninspirational, poor speaker. If only we could have heard David Larsen first.
            --Truthful, stated the problem, but presentation was boring and lifeless.
            --Keynote speaker was hard to hear.
            --If you didn't take anything in context and listen very closely, it could have sounded political.
            --Keynote address is a little early for a lecture. Others ideas should be explored. This should be something to wake people up no to continue sleeping.
            --Dull
            --Keynote was great

C. Auction
         (4)    21
         (3)    25
         (2)    10
         (1)    0
         (N/A)   18

        Comments:
            --I think the auctioneer drifts on and off of this planet
            --Needed more items on auction
            --The auction itself was fine. The auctioneer was poor. Too slow, too many unrelated stories.
            --Auctioneer was very engaging.

E. Awards Program & Display
         4 5
         3 21
         2 14
         1 0
         N/A 15

        Comments:
            --Didn't see any displays
            --Not much re awards
            --didn't get a chance to see any of the displays
            --didn't see any
            --Expected and wanted to see the exhibits/nominations for awards
            --Awards are good-nice to be recognized by your peers

Section 4

A. I liked the format of this workshop
         (SA)    23
         (A)        37
         (U)        6
         (D)        1

Comments:

B. Sufficient time for informal sharing & networking with colleagues.
         (SA) 22
         (A)     36
         (U)     5
         (D)     4

Comments:

C. Speakers were knowledgeable and well prepared.
         (SA)   31
         (A)     34
         (U)     3
         (D)     0

Comments:

D. The handouts and materials were helpful.
         (SA) 21
         (A)     26
         (U)     5
         (D)     5

        Comments:
            --Would have liked more
            --Not enough handouts

E. Use information presented at this workshop in future interpretation at my site.
         (SA) 29
         (A)     24
         (U)     3
         (D)     1
         (SD) 1

Comments:

F. I learned skills which will help improve future interpretation at my site
         (SA) 32
         (A)     21
         (U)     6
         (D)     1
         (SD) 1

Comments:
--Could have used more

G. The workshop was well planned & organized.
         (SA) 31
         (A)     28
         (U)     3

Comments:

H. The quality of facilities
         (SA) 39
         (A)     23
         (U)     1

        Comments:
            --The meals much improved.
            --Spring Mill staff did another excellent job.

Section 5 (Did the workshop meet you needs in the following areas?)

A. Skills development & practical ideas
Yes 47
No 9

Comments:
--Our boss will tell us it can't be done at our site, etc.

B. Content knowledge (history, nature)
Yes 44
No 12

        Comments:
            --Should lean more toward training of interpreters in the art of interpretation from others in our division, we have some good tour guides.
            --Not enough nature content

C. Motivation
Yes 53
No 6

Comments:
--But I know our boss will take this away as soon as we return to site.

D. Networking/sharing ideas with colleagues
Yes 51
No 7

Comments:
--Too much lecture, not enough time for sharing of ideas.

Section 6 (on the whole, how do you rate the workshop)
         Excellent   37
         Good        28
         Fair            3
         Poor          0

Section 7 What is the one thing you enjoyed most or found most helpful?
--Inspiration-to make me see the possibilities for our site.
--New perspectives on old ideas--information exchange
--Motivational, Inspirational, Networking with others; visit time was good
--Dr. Mary Binford Bruner
--Interpretation techniques & tools that were presented
--Take a hike--Karen was the one speaker who you could tell enjoyed her job
--The breakout sessions with David Larsen. However, for such a universal topic for all historical sites, we needed more time and resources. This topic could be an all day workshop. Very interesting and informative.
--The first person character--development session was great, but not long enough.
--People stayed focused
--Model for successful interpretation
--Talking/networking with others from around the state
--National Park Service Presentation
--David Larsens presentation
--Nan Brooks & David Larsen
--Talking with other representatives from other sites
--The speakers were good but too long, people tend to get lost when it goes on and on
--Excellent balance for beginning interpreters and experienced interpreters.
--Networking with colleagues, practical management strategies.
--Larsen's talk, Nan Brooks--Please have both back
--David Larsen's presentations
--The breakout sessions because I like the interaction on a small scale. Most site groups stick together and this is a chance to meet others and discuss ideas.
--Model for successful interpretation
--A Model for Successful Interpretation and listening to Gary Trayhnman on involvement in community.
--1st person in interpretation with Nan Brooks
--Presentation by Dave Larsen
--David Larsen
--Dr. Mary Binford Bruner
--(2) David Larsen's and Nan Brooks workshop session
--Meals were delicious
--Dr. Mary Binford Bruner by Nan Brooks
--David Larsen--more follow up needed
--"A Model for Successful Interpretation" was enjoyable and helpful
--Sharing ideas
--1st person interpretation, virtual visits
--Really enjoyed Jon Kay the folk lorist-very practical information. Best was David Larsen, with he could comeback.
--Outstanding speakers
--Fellowship. Ideas from fellow workers and headquarter personnel.
--It was all helpful in different ways. Motivation is always helpful-always needed.
--Jon Kay and David Larsen. Ideas and enthusiasm.
--David Larsen was an excellent speaker an very easily understood. Also, Nan Brooks class on 1st person was informative.
--Putting the art of interpretation in the light from a visitor perspective. What I call the link to interpreter to visitor process.
--Keynote address, first person
--The humor in Our Town
--My favorite talks were those given by Larson & Friedman. I feel they were both very applicable to the workshop in that they brought the changing nature of interpretation to discussion.
--Good stories, good eye contact.
--David Larsen and the auction
--David Larsen was terrific.
--Spending time with other sites and museum staff. Finding out what goes on at other sites & museums.
--All the sessions I attended were most helpful-especially Wed. lecture.
--The session on Connecting the Tangible with the Intangible with David Larsen.
--I always enjoy university history professors the most. They are such good sources of information on how things are changing and that helps in bringing my interpretation skills up to date. I like the shock value they bring-keeps us on our toes. National Parks-superior.
--Me, Myself & I: First Person Character development and Our Town: Using Your Community as a Form of Interpretation.

Section 8 What did you enjoy least, or find least helpful?
--In each of the sessions there were individuals who wanted to promote their own agenda during the question/answer time. Children can sometimes be excused but adults should not. Too much time was wasted listening to individuals who didn't have a question.
--Only 2 stalls in the one women's restroom I knew of.
--That more ISM staff-Curators did not attend
--Dr. Friedmann--Enough said
--Everything was great, some sessions were slow and drawn out, but overall its a worth while workshop to attend.
--Narrowly focused workshop
--Too long to sit without getting up to stretch after 45 minutes.
--The subjects are getting a little tired-its like the same thing every year. Alot of people aren't applying the information to their individual situations or ideosyncharces (i.e. curators)
--Keynote address
--Auction--shorten please
--nothing specific
--Keynote address-boring
--Keynote address
--Customer service program.. The speaker used an example the uses on teenagers and also gave too many personal experiences form Holiday World. Could have been much better.
--Relating art to teaching history did not come across. It was more along the lines of teaching art history.
--Some idea of where the sites represented were located. A state map showing those places would be helpful. All in all these workshops are very good and difficult to criticize.
--Views from the Past: Teaching history with art.
--The keynote on "The Politics of History" was not very stimulating-and the speaker was very opinionated on some of his subject matter.
--"The Politics of History in Contemporary America" session went on too long, lost interest, got tired of sitting.
--I feel the 1 1/2 hour sessions were too long. Also, not enough time between sessions.
--Sessions (workshops) too long, one hour is long enough. 1 1/2 too long
--Sessions too long.
--Lack of enthusiasm of some upper people, i.e. curators, asst., was minimal but noticeable.
--Some seminars provided little or no practical information.
--Need one hour sessions
--Some sessions did not start on time. Panel members should go to podiums to make presentations or they should be provided with individual microphones where they are seated.
--For my sight and what i need, Dr. Friedman's talk wasn't helpful.
--I was only here for one day, more tome fro me to be here would be great. Also, if some people come the last day, then the hands on sheet might be filled, having 2 days of hands on would be much better.
--I could not connect teaching History with Arts. He was very educated and knew what he was talking about but I could not connect. His presentation was about 95% about me. I am sure that with the right audience he would have been excellent. I do no with to criticize but I just did not see how it fitted in.
--Views from the Past
--Although the conference/workshop overall didn't suffer too much from "dead time", I found the introduction to Monday's evening presentation by Nan Brooks poorly handled, and after Nan Brooks finished, it would have been polite to thank her and once again welcome people to the conference, and then send people on their way (instead of just standing up and saying "that's it")
--History with Art
--Seemed rushed
--Dr. Friedmann
--Sessions too long! Material was good but 1 hour of it is enough. Lose peoples attention after sitting so long. Anything worth saying can be said in 45 min. to 1 hour.
--Tuesday lecture
--Views from the Past. Only session I've fallen asleep in my three years in coming here.
--The Politics of History in Contemporary America

Section 9 Please jot down any ideas for next year's workshop

Speakers
--It seemed to me that a lot of sites are interested in developing 1st person characters, but we need training in this area. Poor presentations along this format are a disaster. Please help everyone coordinate this!
--Dr. Friedmann-I slept through this. I think he did too. How about a more exciting speaker (College dejavu 101). David Larsen -- he's the type of speaker who should be here!
--Would have liked Larsen's talk as keynote & would like to hear his day long presentation
--David Larsen for sure
--David Larsen again and maybe for an entire day with time for work sessions utilizing his ideas at our own sites
--Greta Cunningham covering a shorter period for costumes.
--David Larsen
--Nan Brooks with her 1st person character development
--David Larsen
--Obviously dynamic speakers are a must if possible
--Prepared with handouts-outlines which apply concepts to sites so that we do not have to concentrate on copying info. off an overhead.
--Nan Brooks and James Madison
--Nan Brooks
--Maybe sometimes some speakers are a little too educated and talk a little bit above the average worker I.Q. and he don't get the complete drift.
--Speakers can say everything in 1 hour, then they start losing the crowd attention.
--Indiana University has a world renown Folklore Institute that I think provides great speaker resources. Professor Henry Glassie would give an amazing opening remarks talk. He would provide interesting example of an individual who works in both the academic and applied public realms, and he is really just a very engaging speaker.
--Use some of our division interpreters to present ideas on their tours and what they have learned What works and what doesn't
--David Larsen was excellent.
--Please continue to keep us to date on the interpretation. Natural Parks really exciting. Pressed all the right buttons, I'm ready to improve-excite-make memorable experiences, etc.
--Nan Brooks and David Larsen

Topics
--"How to" regarding research
--Period clothing such as the 1997 program w/Greta Cunningham but several sessions focusing on narrower time periods (i.e. 1750-1800, 1800-1850, 1850-1900, 1900-present)
--Developing exhibits
--Talking to teenagers & older children-how themes differ and how to "provoke" them
--Historic costuming
--Management (How to treat & work with employees and friends groups.
--More on artifacts that are correct time period for sites, such as "Beams from the Past"
--Manager/curator training, personal/work relationships
--Site administration & employee relations
--Themes-Tangible & Intangible too good for too hurried a program, too long , no handouts. Have as a full program more time and have time to divide into groups and use the concepts of theme tangible/intangible.
--Bring back the BBQ
--Effective lighting of artifacts and gift shops. Inviting arranging of artifacts and displays.
--Information on travel. How to do more research on historic topics and or crafts and how to find the research books. How to be a better storyteller.
--Some could have been a little closer related to day to day work activities.
--I would enjoy attending a session that thorough discusses the process of research and the part-time interpreter plays in the texts he or she weaves. Interpreters need to be aware of the spin they put on their stories, and work to allow multiple meanings.
--Outdoor recreation, naturalist-environmental

Social Activities
--Need a little more entertainment like putting on a small performance by our DNR people
--Nan Brooks as Gertrude Stein
--Do an icebreaker
--Auction is good
--Full hour for lunch is good. Talked to fellow workers.
--An ice breaker activity-a game like jeopardy using questions from the active properties, HSI, DNR, etc. or Bingo
--I think the social activities during this year's workshop were just fine.
--Something a little more planned after Mon. night program. " A get-to-know everyone program."
--Something to break up each sites people, so that there is more interaction between different sites.
--Auction--What fun, a good way to entertain, make money and give site information.

Format Changes
--Exhibit hall: Supplier of costuming, historic items. Supplier for gift shops, similar inter. organizations.
--How about a different location. We've seen this place a few too many times.
--Consistent handout packets available for all sessions, whether attended or not.
--More break time between sessions
--Let's do a press release from DNR
--Break during sessions
--Drinks/coffee available 1st thing in am
--No lasagna
--Your site in the community was excellent
--If the problem is money, can't the ISM pay for its own people so that more people come from there?
--The obvious collaboration with National Parks, State Parks, Historic Sites was emphasized this year without meaning to.
--I enjoyed displays you've had in the past-maybe have set up in basement for 1-2 days
--Shorter and more classes
--Tables so you can make notes easier
--Less variety more depth
--1 1/2 sessions to long, more 1 hour variety would be much better. Long sessions loose enthusiasm fast.
--I would like to see an Indiana State map added to the workshop folder we all get at registration. I do not know where all the sites are located, and I don't think I'm the only one laking in such geographical knowledge. I'd like the map to point out he cities and towns where the sites are located, as opposed to just having a skeletal map with random dots representing sites.
--Wed. should be for longer hands-on-sessions. Hands-on is also good tool to learn interpretation skills. These sessions are good but more time is needed to cover the field.
--Time for roundtable discussion. Being able to pick others brains about how to handle specific problems or for encouragement.
--David Larsen needs to have handouts, if there is a National Standard and Format we are to be evaluated with, we need to see copies of these Standards and Formats.

Other Comments:
--Keep up the great work. Love HSI Spring Conference. Thanks for all your efforts and energy. I feel more empowered and energized -- ready for 98 and beyond.
--Don't tell speakers to take more time after they have already had 1 hour and 45 minutes to speak. The 15 min. between sessions is our time
--I like to have David Larsen back next year as keynote speaker, but hitting only the highlights of his talk. Lots of good points made, wonderful pep talk. John Kay was very good at getting everyone involved and moving every 45 minutes not 90 minutes.
--Jon Kay gave an excellent program, Karen Dalman, naturalist guided a hike and she loves her job. David Larsen has a lot of energy and enthusiasm and information.
--The Customer is Always Right not up to par
--Meals were wonderful
--This is my 3rd year and I noticed and enjoyed the speakers and the improvements.
--Can't think of anything to change, Keep up the good work. I know the committee works very hard on this workshop and it shows.
--This should be for new comers. They would find this most helpful.
--The committee did another great job. Speakers were informative and moving, providing much food for thought and actions. Leisure time was sufficient.
--The committee does an excellent job. We put our trust in you. Thanks so much for another good year.
--Nametags: If we are going to use Big first name, ask for preference on registration. Registered as Thomas wishes to be called Tom.

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600