Audio clip
Dewey Blanton
-
Staff Photo by Danielle Moore The Lynn H. Wood Archaeology Museum in Collegedale is using iPod audiobooks for guided tours on campus at Southern Adventist University. Visitors can choose different chapters in the guidebook and select the artifacts and displays they would like to hear more about.
The Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum is using a dash of technology and pop culture to reach out to the students at Southern Adventist University.
The museum recently bought about 15 iPods to be used for self-guided audio tours of the collection, said Michael Hasel, director of the museum and professor of Near Eastern studies and archaeology at Southern in Collegedale.
"I have been to a lot of museums all over the world and haven't seen this used before," he said.
The iPods contain photos of artifacts accompanied by a voice-over narrating the history behind each piece. Museumgoers can choose which pieces to hear about, creating a customized tour for each person, Dr. Hasel said.
"Most of the other audio tours simply use an audio handheld device, but there's no real visual other than what you're seeing," Dr. Hasel said. "They can select what they want to listen to."
Dewey Blanton, spokesman for the American Association of Museums, said major museums across the country have started to integrate iPods and other technology into their exhibits.
"The mantra of museums these days is interactivity and incorporating technology into their exhibitions," he said. "That's a top priority for museums of all types and sizes."
He said that, for its relatively small size, Southern seems to be ahead of the curve.
"It's a bold step, and it's probably one that's going to pay great rewards both now and in the future," he said. "The more they can make their collection and their exhibitions woven into the college experience for their students, the better."
He said the move helps make the museum more relevant to college students in the age of the Internet and cell phones.
"Museums can and should be an integral part of the college experience," he said.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum is Hackman Hall on the campus of Southern Adventist University. It contains artifacts from the ancient Near East. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.archaeology.southern.edu or call 236-2030.
Kevin rejoined the Times Free Press in August 2011 as the Southeast Tennessee K-12 education reporter. He worked as an intern in 2009, covering the communities of Signal Mountain, Red Bank, Collegedale and Lookout Mountain, Tenn. A native Kansan, Kevin graduated with bachelor's degrees in journalism and sociology from the University of Kansas. After graduating, he worked as an education reporter in Hutchinson, Kan., for a year before coming back to Chattanooga. Honors include a ...
Or login with:
New Account