THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE INTERPRETATION

Bridging the gap

Nature interpretation = making meaning


by John Roff – environmental educator at Hilton College, Howick, and author of Bridging the gap, a handbook for environmental educators and interpreters.

There seems to be an increasing gap between people and nature. Interpretation can be seen as a process of repairing this divide by building bridges, across unfamiliar territory, to places of deeper care and understanding.
The simplest definition of interpretation is ‘making meaning’. The interpreter is one who makes or reveals meaning of a place and the living things, processes and human interactions, in which all the participants (including the interpreter) are learning.

Interpretation happens in many ways, from guided tours to brochures, signboards, slideshows, living theatre and many others. The principles in this section can be applied in any place, to any kind of interpretation.
“Interpretation is first and foremost a communication process, to reveal the meaning of natural and cultural resources in a way that inspires and educates.” [Jim Buchholz]

FOR GOOD INTERPRETATION, GET PEOPLE TALKING.

For good interpretation, get people talking.
The information below is not only useful for nature guides or teachers, but also for parents who want to be actively involved in the educational process of their child.
Our research showed that the most effective exhibits for learning were those which… encourage visitors to talk to each other about the exhibits, what they mean and how they relate to their life…
Therefore it is not the interpretation per se which leads to learning, but rather the discussion encouraged by the interpretation.

Head, Heart, Hands
Try to engage the mind, emotions and body of those you work with.

The 4 T’s
Here, the model is based on active learning ideas and suggests that the following components of an experience lead to effective learning:
Touching – Sensory encounters & discovery/research
Talking – Discussion on these encounters with others
Thinking – Reflecting on the experience
Taking action – Doing something with the learning

SOURCE
Location: Africa

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Green The Classroom

Image
Children are often more aware than adults about the importance of being planet-friendly and the need to conserve scarce and precious natural resources.  Many however don't know what steps to take.   With the new year ahead, here are some ideas from JoJo Tanks that they can take to school to green their classroom: 1.       Start recycling of paper, plastic and metal in the classroom and motivate the entire school to participate 2.       Choose reusable packaging and a reusable BPA free water bottle, rather than throwaway plastic bottles to reduce waste creation at lunch time. 3.       Plant an indigenous tree outside the classroom for nature at your doorstep and a much cooler classroom 4.       Plants are nature's air filters and in the classroom they absorb computer radiation and airborne pollutants and provide oxygen and cooler air. Research indicates that indoor plants significantly reduce fatigue and incidences of cold-related ailments like sore throats
Read more

Why kids need fruit and veggies

Many a parent has surrendered to the indomitable will of a child who refuses to eat any fruit or vegetable. Other kids go through fads where anything green is considered toxic or the only form of fruit that passes their lips is a fruit smoothie. Surveys show that the consumption of fruits and veggies is dropping to worrisome levels among children. Many kids replace such foods with processed products that have little or no nutrition, such as soft drinks instead of juice. Jane Collins, the medical director of London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, says parents should try any way they can to inveigle children to eat their fruits and vegetables. In her column for The Times of London, Collins describes the necessary nutrients that children miss as finicky eaters: Vitamin C  helps the body to absorb iron and to heal wounds and keeps skin and gums healthy. It is easily destroyed by heat so food is best eaten raw or only lightly cooked. Sources include citrus fruits, ki
Read more

Rainwater-Harvesting Calculator - JoJo Tanks

Image
The JoJo rainwater-harvesting calculator. A smart way to determine the tank size you require Rainwater harvesting remains the simplest and most efficient way to collect FREE rainwater for a multiple of domestic uses.   For most houses, 90% of the water that falls on the roof inevitably finds its way into the downpipes. Everyone should take advantage of this FREE water supply from the sky by simply connecting a rainwater-harvesting tank to a downpipe. But, most often, it’s the size of the tank required that causes the biggest headache because it’s important to balance supply and demand with the right sized tank(s) so that there’s adequate water supply during long dry periods. That is why JoJo Tanks designed a rainwater-harvesting calculator that allows you to easily establish the amount of water you are able to capture on an annual basis and the ideal size of the tank(s) you would need to install. The calculation does take into account the efficiency factor of different
Read more