The explainer’s profile and professional development constitute an ever-evolving topic not only for Ecsite’s THE Group, but also of institutions that employ explainers of diverse ages, preparation times, skill levels, and sometimes even tasks. Their initial or in-service training is among the most important indicator for the quality of their performance, however, there are still a wide variety of approaches. There are as many types of explainer training as the number of museums and science centres.

THE Group proposes a session on the different approaches to training to follow last year’s debate about whether explaining is a source of life-time employment.

Museums and science centres develop a range of programmes, activities and resources for engaging their audiences using inquiry-based learning, theatre and demonstrations, exhibits on the floor, collections and objects, debate and other science and society tools. The wide variety of provisions, the existing range of methodologies, and the diversity of the audiences translate to a complex and taxing job for explainers. How should we prepare them for their job? How do we reinforce their knowledge and skills to work adequately on the floor?

The session brings together case studies of different initial training approaches, not only in terms of content and skills but also of structure. We would like to discuss training in particular for inquiry-based learning experiences, science shows, object-based activities and also look into its organisation in the different institutions (all-in-one courses, apprenticeships, shadowing, etc.)

The objective is to exchange experience and expertise regarding a task common to all institutions, but also to discuss strong and weak points and the implications of the mission of contemporary museums for explainers’ work with the public.