AGENTS PROVOCATEURS: INTERPRETIVE FLOOR STAFF IN MUSEUMS WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS
AGENTS PROVOCATEURS: INTERPRETIVE FLOOR STAFF IN MUSEUMS WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS
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Issue Date
2000
Authors
Zelaya, Elida
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Abstract
My master's project concentrates on the role and perspective of education floor staff in three museums with interactive exhibits (the Children's Discovery Center in San Jose, the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek) in the San Francisco Bay Area. The purpose of this project is to determine in what / ways senior management can support interpretive floor staff in order to increase opportunities for and facilitation of visitor learning in museums. By doing so, I hope to illustrate the important role fulfilled by interpretive floor staff, which historically has been undervalued. I have identified and evaluated interpretive floor staff contributions to the learning experiences of museum visitors at these three case-study museums. I also have related the experiences and perspective of these staffs, concerning both their role in museums and their manager's responsibilities. After an analysis of the above, I present my findings and offer strategies through which management can better support and utilize their interpretive floor staff. These strategies are to lead to a stronger, more effective relationship between the floor staff and management and, ultimately, a more valuable learning experience for museum visitors.