About Thinking Museum
Ever wondered what makes the perfect guided tour experience? Or what it takes to be be a perfect guide? As training and engagement specialists for all aspects of the guided tour experience, we can help find a personalised answer for you as an individual or as a company.
Today’s museum and heritage guides are expected to possess a wealth of information, but are encouraged to avoid lecturing and using scripts.
They are expected to know a variety of questioning strategies and how to facilitate and to shape a conversation with their group.
In addition, museum guides are frequently expected to guide visitors through the exploration of an artwork or object by using interpretive strategies.
This is indeed a tall order. Many organisations are now working hard at training their guides to introduce more participative, inquiry-led strategies.
All too often, training may cover some techniques in detail, but not all. Quite often, training is sporadic and infrequent. Or guides are given the training but are now unsure how and when to use these new techniques.
We approach training in a different way
We have witnessed first-hand in many museums how taking on a new method of working can be difficult for even the most experienced of guides and strive to build confidence and expertise through consistent practice, feedback and mindset coaching.
We believe that every guide brings their own experiences with them to their museum guiding practice. Every guide need to find their own way of working, drawing on a ‘toolbox’ of educational practices, techniques and skills that they can use in their own individual way. Every guide can develop their own personal style given time and patience to coach, train and practice.
We teach guides a variety of easy-to-learn, flexible techniques and skills and give them the tools to create visitor-centred experiences that bring art and (museum) objects to life.