“And if there are visitors who wish to make their way undisturbed by formal guides and guiding, we must perfect a technique so that these ‘untouchables’ are unruffled by the little man who is there in the green uniform.”

-Archeologist Dale King, 1940

“There is no typical visitor.  He is everything from a casual passerby to an avid buff, a scholarly historian, a professional military man, or a devoted antiquarian.  He is all ages, from cradle-borne to escorted senility.”

-Freeman Tilden, 1957

What is the format of this Training Program?

This program is a mixed-media course of study, combining classroom lectures, online interactive learning, field trips, and participant projects.

Course Modules

The program consists of four modules:

	Module I: The Public Meaning of Heritage (seminar in a classroom setting)
	Module II: Subject Matter Training (two online learning modules)
	“Archeology for Interpreters: A Guide to Knowledge of the Resource”
	“Interpretation for Archeologists: A Guide to Increasing Knowledge,  Skills, and Abilities”
	Module III: Study Tour of Archeological Interpretive Programs (trips to case study sites with some classroom activity)
	Module IV: Archeological Interpretive Products and Assessment (classroom presentation and peer assessment of participants’ archeological interpretive projects)

Course Schedule

The four modules were designed to be taken in sequence and are scheduled so that participants may complete the four-module sequence within one academic and fiscal year. Generally, the course schedule is as follows: Module I: Fall; Module II: Winter; Module III: Early Spring; Module IV: Late Spring.

Thus, participants who take the modules sequentially will complete the program prior to the arrival of millions of visitors vacationing in our national parks during the summer. Participants may elect to take individual modules out of sequence or to combine individual modules from this program with other training opportunities offered by the National Park Service to meet the shared competency goals.

To the extent possible, during the course of the 4-module training program participants would be paired (archeologists and interpreters) to facilitate interaction between the two disciplines. Prior to the initiating the program, if possible, participants would begin outlining ideas for development of a new interpretive product that incorporated archeological information from their host park.

Credits and Certificates of Education

The University of Maryland’s Office of Continuing Education formally recognizes participants in this program of study:

	Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded upon satisfactory completion of each individual module
	A Certificate of Training is awarded upon satisfactory completion of the entire four-module program

←   Back  

 Next    →

An Inspiring Guide

I. Introduction

II. Overview of the Program

III. Meeting the Mission

IV. The Public Meaning of Archeological Heritage

V. Archeology and Interpretation

VI. Study Tour of Parks

VII. Interpretive Products

VIII. Credits

IX. References

X. Resources and Links

 training home