Interactivity of a different type

Jo Carter

Jo Carter, a new co-opted member on the Big Exec, shares her thoughts and experiences about a short placement with a museums service.

Generally I am a member of the front of house team in Techniquest, but in October 2001 I received a grant from the Sharing Museum Skills Awards to work with the Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service in Great Yarmouth. The placement lasted for six weeks, three before and three after christmas. During my visit I both observed and took part in a variety of interactive methods of engaging interest, some of which I had not previously considered. These ranged from a 'living history' Victorian Christmas to the new Origins Centre in Norwich.

During the placement I was working on using the Yarmouth Maritime Museum Collection to create a joint history and science interactive presentation. Luckily ships and science work well together! Studying the historical dimension gave the work an interesting twist.

I was given the chance to study the new redisplay of Norwich Castle, with its very modern set up and a variety of interactive exhibits. These focused on historical happenings - you could try storming the castle or riding a chariot to the rescue of the Celts. The exhibits were fun and were proving popular with the children, although I have some doubts about their potential for longevity. A lot of the school work at Yarmouth is based around handling sessions; the children enjoyed handling artefacts and trying to decide what they were. Fairly resilient artefacts were used, or in some cases replicas. Children were able to try on period clothing and were discreetly encouraged to empathise throughout the session. Although interactivity of this type can only occur if the sessions are supervised, it provided an important stimulus when looking at more stationary parts of the collection.

For me the interactive highlight of the visit was becoming Ivy the scullery maid during the Victorian celebrations at Gressenhall Museum of Rural Life. Children worked their way through a range of activities - making mincemeat, dancing, artefact handling and etiquette lessons -all hosted by a variety of characters. The location, in an old workhouse, added to the atmosphere and the children participated eagerly.

Equally enthusiastic were a group of 'A' Level students who attended a living history day about the Poor Law. They were asked to imagine themselves as the workhouse guardians and were given a tour complete with meeting inmates and a lesson in the schoolroom. The students felt that participating in the 'history' helped them understand the ideas and issues faced by both the custodians and the inmates and allowed them to empathise more deeply with the subject.

Almost everywhere I went in Norfolk I saw interactivity in a variety of forms. People were being encouraged- via questions in the text panels -to look more closely at the exhibits, and to interact in a variety of scenarios. I worked on a new range of 'backpacks' which will be loaned to families, the contents of which will provide activities to encourage people to use the museum's art galleries - traditionally a place for standing and looking rather than doing. The Origins Centre used a more familiar theme of collections and computer based interactives of mainly push button type.

The overall experience was beneficial and worthwhile. My discovery of the fact that the castle interpreters, who have only been working since the redisplay, have the same gripes and problems and also the same enthusiasm for their work as the helpers in Techniquest - it was nice to feel that you are not alone! There was of course far more to the experience, it gave me confidence in my abilities and knowledge and provided a whole range of exciting and sometimes amusing experiences.

( Jo Carter has been co-opted to the executive because of her special interest in front of house issues, especially in front of house training and development).

Newsletter Spring 2002 Contents

Fabricators' Event 2001
Skagen Odde Natur Center, Denmark
Museums Service Placement
Accessing SETNET
Fossil workshop tips
Going free entry - what are its effects?
Scientists meet the public
BIG AGM 2001 Chair's Report