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NEWSLETTER
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NEWSLETTER |
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2007
2008
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WINDS
OFF THE RIDGE
Guides Corner: Mesozoic Moments Age Appropriateness Dinosaur Ridge provides tours for all ages, from pre-school kids to retirement home residents. While we show the same footprints, the same bones and the same rocks to all ages, it is very important that we give a different message to each group, depending on their age, their ability and their objectives. The first step is to understand the type of group that is taking the tour and their objectives. Clearer information at the time of tour booking might help to get us started on the right foot. In some cases, the tour guide can call the person who booked the tour and confirm tour logistics, group demographics and anticipated objectives. If all else fails, sometimes we need to determine this in the few minutes between when the bus arrives and when the tour starts. Tour presentations might be a compromise between what the tour guide feels comfortable in presenting and what the group says they expect to learn. Elementary students might just want to learn about 'neat dinosaurs' and we need to be able to cater to that demand. Secondary students might be more receptive to learning how science works and about careers in science and geology. University geology students will demand a more rigorous presentation of the geologic and paleontological issues on the Ridge. And senior citizens might be more interested in the cultural and historical aspects of the area. A second step is to understand how different ages learn things differently. While adults can sit through a 90 minute lecture, elementary students require lots of hands-on activities and they must be involved in question and answer types of presentations, rather than lectures. The active use of the posters and fossil replicas that we have is important for the visual and tactile learners. For some younger groups, we may need to avoid talking about "sedimentology" and "stratigraphy" and talk more about analogies like birthday cakes with lots of layers or amaking mud pies or pancakes. Very young (and very old) groups may have a more limited attention span, especially if the weather is not agreeable. We should be ready to shorten tours and maybe limit them to just the bone site and the footprint site when interest is waning. More is not always better. When in doubt, ask the group leaders (or maybe the entire group) if it is time to shorten the tour. Even though we may have a lot to say, groups might not have the ability to absorb all of that wisdom. Try to keep in touch with your group and keep them engaged throughout the tour. Dinosaur Ridge provides a fantastic look at a variety of geological principles and processes. It is our job as tour guides to find the best ways to present that information so that it has the maximum impact on our customers. Visit the MeMo repository in the Dinosaur Ridge Volunteer Room (reprinted from the Ridge Report, vol 19, no. 3)
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