DOTIK questionnaire on explainers (pilots, guides, helpers,...) in science centres and museums
 

Dear colleague.
We are researching on the role and training of explainers in museums.
We refer to "explainers" - also called helpers, pilots, guides, mediators - as those people that: accompany and/or assist the public visiting an exhibition (children, young people, adults, families etc.); work in the didactic laboratories of the museum; carry out games, performances, demonstrations and other activities that complement the museum’s offer.
We ask you to answer a few questions that will help us to know better the European situation. The results will be available to anybody interested (details at the end of the questionnaire).
Thank you for your kind help!

Your name 
Museum/science centre
City
Country
E-mail  

Which is your position in the museum?
If other, please specify

Have you ever worked as explainer? YES NO

How do you call the “explainer” in your museum, in your language?
(If there exist more than one word, please mention all of them)

 
How many explainers work in your museum (approx.)?
How many of them are actively working in the museum in an average day (approx.)?
What is the size of your museum (sqm)?
How many visitors per year has your museum?
How many full time equivalent persons work in your museum?

Which kind of professional status has the explainers in your museum?
Permanent job (full time and part time contracts)
Occasional job (payment per hour)
Volunteer
External agencies/cooperatives
Free lancers
Other (please specify)

Who are they (if possible, provide a rough percentage)?

Students doing a part time job during their studies: %
People doing a temporary job while waiting for something else: %
Professionals having museums as their main career perspective: %

Other (please specify)

How are the explainers trained when first starting their job?
By senior explainers, through imitation
In an introductory meeting
Through a short internal course (less than 12 hours)
Through a long internal course (more than 12 hours)
Through an externally organized course
Other (please specify):

How frequently does the museum organize training updates?
Monthly
2-4 times a year
Once a year
There is no regular updating
Other (please specify):

How often do animators participate in externally organized training courses, conferences, workshops, etc.?
Monthly
Few times a year
Occasionally
Never

If you are not an animator yourself: how often do you have direct contacts with the explainers in your museum?
Daily
Periodically (in formally organized meetings)
Occasionally (in informal contexts)
Never (beside evenings in pubs, etc.)

If you had to select new explainers, what skills/backgrounds would you prefer? Please, for each give a value from 0 (min.) to 5 (max)

Science:
Engaging capabilities, communication skills:
Theatrical experience:
Work with group (scouts, charity etc.):

Other (please, specify)

Thank you very much!