In
December, 2002, 16 interpreters invited for their diverse
perspectives on interpretation met at Stephen T. Mather Training
Center to provide strategic direction for the Interpretive
Development Program (IDP). Among other things, the group developed
an IDP mission statement:
Mission
Interpretive Development Program (IDP) standards, philosophies,
and best practices are based on the knowledge that people
care for what they first care about. The IDP enables all
NPS employees to connect people to parks so that parks are
preserved and future generations may make their own meaningful
resource connections. The IDP maintains professional standards
by providing a benchmark curriculum and developmental opportunities,
integrating best practices with agency management, and operating
a peer review certification program.
Standards
Maintained:
The IDP maintains professional standards for NPS interpretation
through identified competencies (bundles of knowledge, skills,
and abilities necessary to perform tasks), the national curriculum
that specify the content of interpretive competencies, and
rubrics (language used to describe the successful demonstration
of a competency). Stephen F. Austin University offers a master’s
degree in interpretation based on this curriculum and stands
as an example of the general profession’s acceptance
of the curriculum and its standards.
Standards
Learned:
The IDP provides training and development through classroom
instruction, satellite broadcast, publications and videos,
academic partnerships, and distance learning.
Standards
Integrated:
IDP best practices are used in, among others, visitor experience
planning, partnership efforts, program evaluation, critical
resource issues interpretation, civic engagement efforts,
recruiting, hiring, program auditing, and supervisory training.
Standards
Measured:
The IDP’s peer review/certification program has applied
professional standards to and provided developmental feedback
on more than 3,000 interpretive products.
Curriculum
and Website Revision
Strategic
planning called for a revision of both the IDP national curriculum
as well as the IDP website. Workshops are to look at IDP modules
are planned for FY2004 and work on Module 310: Planning Park
Interpretation is already underway and will be posted Fall
2003.
The
IDP website will go through a number of major revisions in
Fall 2003 as well.
Steering
Committee Established
The
new IDP Steering Committee exists as a mechanism for changing
IDP procedures and protocols, especially for the peer review/certification
program.
The
IDP Steering Committee members:
Meet annually the first week of December;
Represent
the field and are points of contact for problems and suggested
change;
Carry
problems and suggestions to IDP leadership and other IDP
Steering Committee members;
Discuss issues and opportunities and make recommendations
for change to IDP leadership;
Act as the primary annual and long-range strategic planners
for the IDP.
The
Steering Committee is composed of:
Training Manager for Interpretation, Education, Partnerships,
and Conservation and Recreation, STMA;
Program Manager for Interpretation and Education, WASO;
One representative from each regional office;
One representative from Harpers Ferry Interpretive Design
Center;
Seven
at-large representatives nominated by regions (each region
may nominate up to three) and selected by the Training Manager
and Program Manager for representing different perspectives
and subject matters.
The
roles and responsibilities of IDP Steering Committee members
will be posted on the IDP website and field interpreters will
be encouraged to contact members to contribute to the evolution
of IDP operations, best practices, and philosophies.
Actual
IDP Steering Committee members will be announced and posted
soon!
Stephen
F. Austin State University Masters Degree in Resource Interpretation
Beginning
Fall 2003, Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) is offering
a Masters Degree in Resource Interpretation to help interpreters
submit products that demonstrate certification standards in
the National Park Service’s (NPS) peer review certification
program. The SFA/NPS partnership:
Provides NPS and non-NPS interpreters with the opportunity
to earn their Masters Degree via distance education.
Enables interpreters to apply the philosophy and techniques,
the curriculum and training, and the peer review certification
process of the IDP to their graduate studies in interpretation.
Provides
in-depth instruction in IDP competencies such as interpretive
talks, conducted activities, illustrated programs, interpretive
writing, curriculum-based programs, interpretive planning
& leadership, and interpretive media. Introduces interpreters
to a wide range of interpretation theory, research methods
and best practices.
Facilitates in-depth study in the interpreter’s area
of subject matter expertise.
Six
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) programs were offered in
May and June 2003. This distance learning was designed to
coincide with seasonal training across the country. Specific
courses were offered to the field as well as to supervisors.
More than 500 NPS interpreters from around the country participated
in The Interpretive Analysis Model, The Interpretive Process
Model, and Interpretive Techniques. A number of parks had
their entire seasonal staff attend. The response was overwhelmingly
positive, both for the training as well as the opportunity
to feel connected to and interact with people and parks all
over they system.
Strategic
planning in December, 2002 established a National Council
of representatives from each regional office. The Training
Manager for Interpretation, Education, Partnerships, Recreation
and Conservation is facilitating a quarterly conference call
with this group in order to plan and implement IDP efforts.
The
National Council has established a new procedure for applying
for and awarding matching funds for classroom training in
essential interpretive competencies.
Training
supported by this funding is open to Ranger Career employees
and/or their supervisors with specific competency, or competency
implementation needs and/or to any employees, volunteers,
employees under term appointments, seasonal employees, association
staff or concession employees who conduct interpretation at
National Park sites. Employees of other organizations are
welcome to attend training on a space-available basis.
Viewed
as a whole, the training offered with the support of matching
funds will be:
Nationally coordinated to avoid redundancy and maximize
opportunity;
Offered
in a wide variety of regional and subject matter locations;
Available
to regions and locations with acute and specific special
needs.
The
National Council will discuss and determine which proposed
courses best accomplish the above desired outcomes.
Proposals
for training events occurring October through December, 2003
are due no later than August 15, 2003. The Regional Council
will approve proposals for funding by August 29, 2003.
Proposals
for training events occurring January through September, 2004
are due no later than December 1, 2003. The Regional Council
will approve proposals for funding by December 15, 2003.
Funding
must first be advanced by region, cluster, or park to become
eligible for a matching funds transfer in an equal amount
from Mather Training Center.
IDP
Publication and Video
Meaningful
Interpretation: How to Connect Hearts and Minds to Places,
Objects, and Other Resources will be released along with a
video version of An Interpretive Dialogue, Fall, 2003. Both
will be available as sales items through Eastern National.
The
book is designed as a journal for interpreters of all experience
levels. It explores interpretive philosophy and best practices
and can be used for self-study, development for an interpretive
staff or individual interpreters, or for traditional classroom
training. The video works with the book but also stands alone
and presents core IDP philosophy in an entertaining way.
