Session Goals

In this last session of Module 1 participants put together everything they have learned and apply Practice Based Facilitation to real-world scenarios through analyzing and responding to vignettes and case study videos. In small groups participants reflect on their performance and provide peer feedback to one another.

Notes to Instructor

This session will be organized into five segments: an improv warm-up, a review of the Practice Based Facilitation Framework, an activity focused on analyzing and responding to written vignettes, an activity focused on observing and responding to case study videos, and a debrief discussion:

  1. ​Improv warm-up
  2. Practice Based Facilitation Framework Review 
  3. Activity - Case study vignettes 
    Break
  4. Activity - Case study videos
  5. ​Debrief

Session 4

Activity Slides (link)

Improv Warm-up 
If the participants have completed at least one session of improv, ask them to select and play an improv game that they have learned in the applied improvisation training as a fun warm-up activity. ​

Practice Based Facilitation Framework Review 
Review framework ​

Activity 1: Case Studies - Magnetic Islands and Roll It Wall
In this activity participants first read about an exhibit and discuss as a group the possible categories of engagement and what practices might be possible (and what those practices might look like) for each category. They then individually read written vignettes describing visitor interactions with the exhibit and apply the Practice Based Facilitation Framework to (1) categorize the visitor's engagement as a proxy for their context (2) choose a facilitation pathway, and (3) choose an appropriate facilitation move or moves.

Participants share their individual responses with the group and discuss the range of possibilities as well as how the applied improvisation training would play a role in how they analyze and respond to these scenarios.
​
Roll It Case Study Video A 

Break

Activity 2: Case study - Mystery Bottle and Magnetic Islands
(Mystery bottle)

In this activity participants first watch a video showing a range of ways in which visitors interact with an exhibit and discuss as a group the possible categories of engagement and what practices might be possible (and what those practices might look like) for each category. They then watch case study videos of specific visitor interactions with the exhibit and individually apply the Practice Based Facilitation Framework to (1) categorize the visitor's engagement as a proxy for their context (2) choose a facilitation pathway, and (3) choose an appropriate facilitation move or moves.

Participants share their individual responses with the group and discuss the range of possibilities as well as how the applied improvisation training would play a role in how they analyze and respond to these scenarios.

​Mystery Bottle case study A
Mystery Bottle case study B
​Magnetic Islands case study video A 
Magnetic Islands case study video B 

Final Debrief
​(You decide how to debrief)

​

 

Homework Activities

At your home institution, during your work on the museum floor, do the following activities over time and keep a journal of your observations and ideas (to be referred to in module 2):

1) Observe visitors engaging with a specific exhibit and create a list of engagement categories for the exhibit.
2) Through exploratory play with the exhibit, engage in all practices possible for a specific engagement category.
3) Chose a specific practice for your specific engagement category and investigate the full range of sub-practices possible (eg. If your practice is observation, can you just make qualitative observations or is it possible to make quantitative observations? How many different variables can be observed? Can you make observations about similarities and differences? Etc...
4) Engage with visitors at this exhibit and practice (1) maximizing their engagement by moving them to your selected engagement category (if appropriate)(2) expanding their use of practices by moving them to your selected practice (if appropriate), and (3) optimizing their use of your selected practice (if appropriate).

Continue to play improv games with your colleagues as a daily warm-up to time on the floor and as a constant reminder of the presence and spontaneity required for visitor-centered learning. You will continue to expand your applied improvisation skills in module 2.