Museum
docent
Museum docent is a title given to persons who serve as guides and
educators for the institutions they serve, usually on a voluntary basis. The
English word itself is derived from the Latin word docēns, the present
active participle of docēre (to teach, to lecture). Cognates of this
word are found in several extant Romance Languages and are often associated with university professors or
teachers in general. In many cases, docents, in addition to their prescribed
function as guides, also conduct research utilizing the institution's
facilities.
United
States
Museum docent is a title used in the United States
for educators trained to further the public's understanding of the cultural
and historical
collections of the institution, including local and national museums, planetariums,
zoos,
historical landmarks, and parks.
Prospective docents generally
undergo an intensive training process at the expense of the educational institution,
which teaches them good communicative and interpretive skills, as well as introducing them to the institution's
collection and its historical significance. They are also provided with reading
lists to add to the basic information provided during training, and must then "shadow"
experienced docents as they give their tours
before ultimately conducting tours on their own.
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