KWL charts (pronounced “cool”) are often used by schoolteachers to introduce topics and then to reinforce learned information. Museum educators can utilize this nifty technique to enhance tours and encourage interaction with guests.
When used in the classroom, KWL charts are comprised of 3 columns labeled K, W, and L. Prior to a lesson, students are asked to list what they “know” about the topic in the K column and what they “want” to find out in the W column. The L column is used to write down what they have “learned” once the lesson is over.
The same concept can be used when conducting tours by asking guests to consider what they know about the topic as your tour begins. Encourage guests to express what they want to know as the tour progresses. Wrap up the tour by engaging guests in discussion about things they learned by asking a few questions such as “How do you think they got the idea to …” or “Why do you think he didn’t…”
KWL is a quick and easy tool and its, well, cool! Your guests will think it’s cool to be involved in your tour and it’s even more cool to see what info they take away from the tour. :-)
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