In his 1957 book Interpreting Our Heritage, Freeman Tilden tried to define the craft of interpretation: “Heritage interpretation is an educational activity,” he wrote, “which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than simply to communicate factual information.” To help interpreters make those meanings, he defined six principles of interpretation:
Tilden’s Six Principles
- Any interpretation that does not somehow relate what is being displayed or described to something within the personality or experience of the visitor will be sterile.
- Information, as such, is not Interpretation. Interpretation is revelation based upon information. But they are entirely different things. However all interpretation includes information.
- Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts, whether the materials presented are scientific, historical or architectural. Any art is in some degree teachable.
- The chief aim of Interpretation is not instruction, but provocation. “Interpretation should have a purpose.”
- Interpretation should aim to present a whole rather than a part, and must address itself to the whole man rather than any phase. "theme"
- Interpretation addressed to children (say up to the age of twelve) should not be a dilution of the presentation to adults, but should follow a fundamentally different approach. To be at its best it will require a separate program.
Reference
https://mylearning.nps.gov/library-resources/tildens-six-principles-ace/
interpretive strategies
Universal concept: water
Labeling
Cause and Effect
Analogies : rational comparison betwen two things
Metaphors : direct representation of another concept
Similes : like or as to relate two concepts
Dramatic Pause
Exaggerate sacle : time, geographic features
Anecdotes : personal experiences
Quatations
Humor
Repetition
Current Event
Different types of objectives
Entry level : understanding of park resources, rules
Ownership:
- awareness of impacts of park resources
- caring about those imapcts
Empowerment
- desire to make a difference; belief that you can; actual change in behavior
relate tangibles to intangibles
Tangibles : things can be sensed
Intangible: abstract concepts
"Challenge is to relate the two" : teach people to see the connection