By Michele Longo, Office of Historic Alexandria, VA, and AASLH Educators and Interpreters Committee Chair
There are so many great sessions at this year’s annual conference in Cincinnati for educators and interpreters! From designing programs for young learners and families to collaborating with new communities and beyond, AASLH will have a variety of perspectives and topics to explore. You can review the full program here, and below are the sessions hosted by members of the AASLH Educators and Interpreters Committee:
Rethink and Revive: Finding New Stories with Your Same Collection
Thursday, 8:30-9:45 a.m.
Join this session to think creatively about interpretation! Museums often have static exhibitions or rote tours with one story. Presenters will give examples of how they have used programming, questioning strategies, and more to tell new stories. Attendees will also practice ways to apply this to their own work.
The Biggest Little Experiment: Embracing Young Audiences in Museums
Friday, 8:30-9:45 a.m.
Young children are often seen as disruptive risks in museum spaces, but they are the museum audience of the future! This practical session explores scalable strategies for engaging young children through play, storytelling, and imagination. Come ready to refresh a program idea and develop playful, resource-conscious activities for your site!
Program Evaluation: Why? When? How? YES!
Friday, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Program evaluation helps us make informed choices about how to deploy our resources to serve audiences. This session provides historic site staff with a foundational introduction to evaluation with specific focus on needs of smaller organizations. During the session, participants will develop a preliminary plan for evaluating a program at their site.
Meaningful Collaborations with American Indian Tribes
Friday, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
In this session, attendees will learn how to build meaningful partnerships with American Indian Tribes. This roundtable features diverse perspectives on fostering respectful, collaborative relationships to accurately share tribal stories. Gain practical insights and strategies for co-creating content that benefits both Tribes and cultural institutions, with time for audience discussion.
These sessions were inspired by conversations and ideas the committee gathered from participants at our History Hours and 2024’s Future of Interpretation summit—thank you for your great questions and feedback!
Want to help AASLH members network and equip paid and unpaid history professionals in creating quality educational programs and experiences? Consider joining the Educators and Interpreters Committee. Committee members plan professional development and networking opportunities through webinars, History Hours, participation in the annual conference, and more! For more information, pick up a business card at any of the above sessions or stop by the AASLH table near the registration desk. See you in Cincy!
