In what ways did the tour guide actively enhance your experience? What could they have done better. Any techniques you will try for your own tour?

Module 4: Crafting a Thesis

STAKEHOLDERS – Curator presenters

– Museum docents LEARNING GOAL At this stage, the emphasis shifts from learning to production. Teens begin thinking about building their own exhibitions, even as they continue to develop their museum tours. The group learns about the work that sparks an exhibition thesis: exploring themes, types of exhibitions and research.

EXPERIENTIAL GOAL Teens move from receiving information into making meaning of it and producing their own knowledge. They are the agents of their learning experience, and the role of adults is to facilitate this learning and creation.

Allocated time per activity

= 1 hour

Curatorial Study Hall

An opportunity to learn from and work with Museum curators and other staff.

1 hr EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT WITH AKILI TOMMASINO

What are some different types of exhibitions or installations? Which themes or stories can we draw out from a group of works of art? Why is it important for an exhibition to have a thesis? Brainstorm: themes for our exhibition

1.5 hr RESEARCH METHODS WITH ANITA BATEMENT

How can we learn more about a work of art or artist? When viewing an object we’ve never seen before, where do we start? Which resources are reliable? Brainstorm: research questions for our exhibition Reading & Looking

Rich material to help build the context and language for

conceiving an exhibit.

2 hr CONTEMPORARY ART READING

2.5 hr ESSAY

“The Power of Patience” by Jennifer Roberts

1 hr PROGRAM EVALUATION BAI SITE VISIT

Reflecting

Building in time to think about the big picture, build perception and insight, and strengthen communication.

1 hr TYPES OF EXHIBITIONS

Select a gallery or galleries to study. What is the type of exhibition? What characteristics of this gallery led you to this conclusion? Making & Doing

Synthesizing and applying the skills and knowledge gained by interpreting the museum.

1.5 hr SAMPLE TOUR BY FACILITATOR WITH FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION

How could I have improved my tour? What did I do well that you want to implement?

1 hr TOUR PREPARATION

How could I have improved my tour? What did I do well that you want to implement?

6 hr TEEN TOURS

Dispersed throughout the module, tours by each teen followed by discussion Other

Additional activities to access the Museum and their own creativity.

1 hr MUSEUM TOUR

Introduction to the Contemporary Collection

1 hr MEDITATION

Toulouse-LauTrec Worksheet

1. List 3 design elements of the Toulouse-LauTrec exhibitions.

Write:

2. Would you implement any of those elements into your own exhibit?

3. How has making/giving and receiving tours shaped your understanding of exhibitions?