Making Connections: A
Symposium for Docents, Teachers, and Museum Educators
March 14, 2013, 5 to 7:30 p.m. and March 15, 2013, 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Docents, teachers, and museum educators are invited to join the
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts for a symposium. The symposium begins on
Thursday evening, March 14, at 6 p.m. with a lecture celebrating the special
exhibition In Company with Angels: Seven
Rediscovered Tiffany Windows, and refreshments in the Museum's rotunda. On Friday, March 15, MMFA will host a series
of workshops that address Visual Thinking Strategies, and practical workshops
that focus on studio and school applications, technology, docent training, gallery
discussions, and tours.
Symposium Schedule
Thursday, March 14, 2013
5:00 p.m.
Registration
6:00 p.m.
Fleischman Lecture and Reception “The
Ecclesiastic Vision of Louis C. Tiffany”
Guest speaker: Diane C. Wright.
Place: Wilson Auditorium
March 15, 2013
8:00 a.m.
Registration
9:00 to 9:15 a.m.
Symposium
Introduction
Place: Auditorium
9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Visual Thinking Strategies:
An Introduction
Presenter:
Nancy Jones, VTS Representative
The Visual Thinking
Strategies (VTS) teaching method and school curriculum centers on open-ended,
yet highly-structured discussions of visual art, significantly increasing
students' critical thinking, language and literacy skills. VTS trainer, Nancy
Jones will discuss the history of Visual Thinking Strategies, and how museums
and schools have incorporated it into their teaching practices.
Nancy Jones
Nancy Jones is the former Executive
Director of Learning and Interpretation
at The Detroit Institute of Arts. She has been involved in promulgating learner-centered teaching in
museums since 1992, when she began to introduce the VTS (Visual Thinking
Strategies) to the docent corps of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Under
her leadership, the educational program of the DIA was cited for its innovation
and excellence. At the core of her approach was the research-based VTS
method, which helped Nancy and her staff to build programming that meets the real
needs of museum visitors. Her mission to create a learner-centered museum
extended to the training of docents to facilitate VTS tours that engage people
of all ages in active meaning-making through art, and informed the creation of
gallery installations and texts that foster personal engagement.
10:45
to 11:00 a.m.
Break | Refreshments
11:00 a.m. to 12: 00
p.m.
VTS Practice
Presenter: Nancy Jones, VTS Representative
Location: Lowder Gallery
This hands-on workshop will focus on developing VTS facilitation skills and exploring the theoretical underpinnings of VTS.
Websites for Docent
Training
Presenter: Tim Brown, Curator of Education
Location: Orientation Circle
Cloud-based services provide an efficient and easy way to
manage web content. This session will
cover ways to set up, design, and manage content for docent training.
VTS and Studio
Presenter: Donna Pickens, Assistant Curator of Education
Location: Studio I
VTS is widely embraced by museum educators and teachers.
Come and learn how VTS is employed in the studio to help students think more
critically about works of art.
Supplemental
Resources for Tours
Presenter: Pat Wanglie, MMFA Docent
Location: Studio II
Supplemental resources enhance learning opportunities for
guided tours. Explore resources that can be used to address diverse
topics and a range of audiences.
Lunch – 12:00 to 1:00
p.m
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
VTS Practice
Presenter: Presenter: Nancy Jones, VTS Representative
Location: Lowder Gallery
This hands-on workshop will focus on developing VTS facilitation skills and exploring the theoretical underpinnings of VTS.
VTS and Studio
Presenter: Donna Pickens, Assistant Curator of Education
Location: Studio I
VTS is widely embraced by museum educators and teachers.
Come and learn how VTS is employed in the studio to help students think more
critically about their works of art.
Painting with Words
Presenter: Gloria Simons, MMFA Docent
Place: Permanent Collection
The verbal/linguistic model of learning is key to building
students’ literacy skills. During this workshop, participants will discuss several ways to generate
creative writing using original works.
Multi-Sensory Tour
Presenters: Beverly Bennett and George Jacobsen, MMFA Docents
Place: ARTWORKS
Art museum tours operate under the “no touch” rule. Learn
how interactive gallery spaces can expand opportunities for learning in a
museum setting.
2:00 to 2:15 p.m.
Break | Refreshments
2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
VTS Practice
Presenter: Presenter: Nancy Jones, VTS Representative
Location: Lowder Gallery
This hands-on workshop will focus on developing VTS facilitation skills and exploring the theoretical underpinnings of VTS.
iPads – A Hands-on
Guide
Presenter: Tim Brown, Curator of Education
Location: Orientation Circle
Technology has become an integral part of how museums
educate the public about its collections. Learn how iPads can be used to
enhance tours and exhibitions.
Collection
Connections in the Classroom
Presenter: Sally Chambliss, LAMP Magnet High School, BeeLee
Tullos, Montgomery Academy Lower School
Location: Studio II
Museum collections are vital resources for teachers across
the curriculum. This session will address how works of art connect to school
curriculum.
Tour Logistics
Presenter: Docents and Staff
Location: Studio I
Tour logistics can be challenging when leading multiple groups
through the museum. Come participate in this group discussion to exchange ideas
with your peers.
Final Wrap Up – 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.