Interpret Europe Conference 2012
Caring for nature and culture: interpretation as a management tool
This detailed course description follows the structure of Grundtvig's In-Service Training course database.
Reference number: IT-2012-812-001
Session ID: 46125
Institution organising the training
Type of Training
Training aimed at participants receiving a Grundtvig grant (adult education).
Target audiences
- Teachers (Pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational, adult, special needs)
- Teacher trainers
- Head teachers/principals/managers of schools/organisations offering adult education
- Other (paid or voluntary) management staff in the institution/organisation
- Other, namely: managers of sites, protected areas and museums, heritage interpreters and educational staff at protected areas, sites and museums.
Thematic fields of training
- Artistic education
- Cultural heritage
- Environment and sustainable development
- Ethics, religion, philosophy
- Geography
- History and social science
- Media & communication
- Environmental education
- Other courses for arts and social science teachers: Intercultural understanding
Languages used for the training and training materials:
English
Full description of the training contents
Objectives
1) To investigate the scope of benefits that professional heritage interpretation as a visitor-oriented form of non-formal education can provide for the management of sites, protected areas and museums.
2) To investigate and exchange experience about success factors for efficient and effective heritage interpretation in relation to visitor expectations and management goals as well as regional, national and / or European policies.
3) To enhance professional acknowledgement of heritage interpretation specialists by fostering their competence to link and explain their adult education work in relation to management goals.
4) To enhance heritage managers' understanding of how professional interpretation can support them in achieving their organisations' goals and objectives, and which resources need to be allocated in order to realise this potential.
5) To foster professional exchange and inter-cultural experience between different stakeholders that are involved in the planning and delivery of interpretive learning experiences in different countries, thus contributing to European cohesion.
Preparation
Heritage Interpretation, as a tool for non-formal adult education, is closely linked to the management of protected areas, historic buildings and sites or museums. One widespread problem is that heritage managers are not very familiar with both:1) the opportunities which more professional planning and implementation of heritage interpretation can provide for achieving their management goals, and 2) the success factors that must be met, in order to deliver effective non-formal learning experiences that support those management’s goals.The conference main theme will investigate these multifaceted key questions from different perspectives.
Participants are requested to prepare themselves by reading recommended technical literature, by answering a self-assessment questionnaire that encourages them to reflect their own experience in advance, and to acquaint themselves with selected materials that prepare them for the technical visits and case studies.
In addition participants are encouraged to present a paper, at the conference during parallel sessions, on their own experience related to heritage interpretation from their country at the conference during parallel sessions.
Methodology
Interpret Europe's annual conferences are characterised by blending different formats:
- plenary sessions with key note addresses,
- parallel sessions with presentations and interactive workshops
- technical study visits in smaller groups (20 to 40 persons) that provide real worldexamples related to the conference theme and opportunities to link theory with practical application. Some of these examples are “work in progress” and serve as a competence-oriented learning environment to find practical solutions and discuss innovative ideas by a collaboration with local experts and international experts participating in the conference.
Validation of learning outcomes by a self assessment using a pre-conference and a post-conference questionnaire.
Follow-up
Validation of learning outcomes through discussion of innovative ideas arising from field visits and discussion with local experts, through self-assessment of developments in terms of new knowledge, changing attitudes and new skills to be applied to their work in non-formal adult education.
Evaluation of the results by the organisers.
Publication of selected papers to disseminate important results.
Publication of conference reports by participants and organisers in their newsletters or other media.
Participants will be invited to join Interpret Europe and to continue networking on a European scale informally and to encourage cooperation in European projects.
Programme of the training activities (day by day)
Day 1:
15:00: Arrival; registration, conference opening plenary, informal welcome reception
Day 2:
8:30 - 18:30 Two parallel technical visits of sites offering non-formal adult education and opportunities to discuss real world examples related to the conference theme with competent stakeholders
- Oasis Lipu - Birdlife Italia at Massaciuccoli and San Rossore estate showcasing different strategies of visitor management and challenges for interpretation including accessibility at nature sites.
- Carrara quarries and Alpi Apuane Museum in Massa as an example to discuss opportunities for how to enhance visitor experience by applying principles of heritage interpretation.
Day 3:
8:30 - 12:30: Plenary and parallel sessions on the relation between heritage site management and heritage interpretation / non-formal adult education;
13:45 - 19:00: technical visit to Pisan Hills (Lari, CascianoTerme) with a focus on heritage interpretation (non-formal adult education) in relation to managing sustainable development of rural tourism through private initiative;
19:30: cultural programme (traditional family theatre play which is also an example of intangible heritage) and dinner at Lari
Day 4:
8:30 - 11:00: Short technical visit to Pisa city about managing visitors at a world famous tourism attraction (Piazza dei Miracoli with Leaning Tower), and challenges / opportunities for adult education through interpretation of Pisan heritage.
11:45 - 20:00: Parco Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli: Parallel and plenary sessions on the relation between heritage site management and heritage interpretation / non-formal adult education, including on-site lunch break. Celebration of the European day of the Parks and the educational role of protected areas.
20:15: final dinner in the park.
Day 5:
Departure
Type of certification of attendance awarded
- Certificate of attendance
Dates and venue
Date of start: 19 May 2012, 15:00 CEST
End of the course: 22 May 2012, 22:30 CET
Host Institution equal to organiser institution: no
Venue:
Nearest city: Pisa Distance in km: 0 km
Nearest international airport: Pisa
Maximum number of participants envisaged: 100
Identification of the trainers
Patrick Lehnes, Germany, geographer, 15 years’ international experience in interpretive planning and writing; Certified Interpretive Trainer, Lecturer at University of Freiburg, Executive Director of Interpret Europe
Michael H. Glen, UK, 40 years’ involvement in interpretation, 25 years’ experience in interpretive planning and preparation of interpretive texts, contributor of MSc in Interpretation Planning and Management, course leader in creative writing for interpretation, self-employed consultant and writer, Chair of Interpret Europe.
Maurilio Cipparone, biologist, journalist, parks and protected areas planner and manager, former director of the park service of Lazio Region and former president of the Lazio regional park agency, adjunct professor at State University of Molise, 40 years’ experience in education, interpretation and training activities. Founding member and past president of the Pangea Institute, the Italian NGO specialised for environmental education, interpretation and training. Vice Chair of Interpret Europe
Fees
Conference fee for the training including materials: 190 €
Fee for accommodation and meals: not included (see remarks)
Cancellation rules
We guarantee free cancellation until four weeks before the conference begins.
The cancellation fee of 190 € applies for cancellations between 21 April and 12 May 2012.
For cancellations after 12 May 2012 no refund is possible.
Provision for special needs
The conference venues are suitable for wheelchair users and capable of meeting a variety of dietary requirements that are specified in advance. There can be limitations to wheelchair accessibility, however, on the technical visits to heritage sites, particularly at the Carrara quarries.
Additional important information on this course session
This conference is jointly organised by Istituto PANGEA, Parco Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli and Interpret Europe – European Association for Heritage Interpretation e.V. The Italian partners are responsible for the local organisation and Interpret Europe for registration and issuing the conference certificates. All partners together are responsible for the conference programme.
Besides the conference fee a fee of 180 € is charged for lunch and dinners from 19 to 22 May. Coffee at coffee breaks and table water for lunch and dinner is included. The invoice will separate the conference fee and the fee for meals.
Accommodation is to be booked by the participants, independently. Special arrangements are made with three hotels at the venue or within walking distance. Details are available here.