John Veverka & Associates

Go to content

Main menu

Interpretive Evaluation, Visitor Studies and Site Assessment Center




Interpretive Evaluation, Visitor Studies and
Interpretive Site Assessment Center




As we continue to expand our services for the interpretive profession, our newest center will help begin our expanding  interpretive outreach services.  Our new center offers expertise and contract services in:

- Interpretation program, services and media evaluation.


 

              

Interpretive panel critiquing - Slovenia Naitonal Parks (right) - evaluation of interpretive program and interpretive media draft designs.

This includes critique and analysis of live interpretive programs, interpretive media such as panels and self-guiding materials, and total intepretie services program staffing and operational needs.


- Pre-post testing evaluation for interpretive exhibits.


 


Exhibit pre and post testing evaluation.


This service is offered at the beginning of new exhibit projects evaluation of interpretive exhibit mock-ups such as the photos above, or a evaluation of existing interpretive exhibits that may be in need of updating and re-hab.


- Visitor studies and marketing research.
Who are your visitors and market groups, what products, services and experience do they want?.  What are their travel needs or challenges, wayfinding needs, expectations and more?

 


    JVA interpretive training course on developing visitor survey questionnaires and research for the Budapest World Heritage Site (including participants doing a visitor survey study to pre-test the questionnaire design).


- Developing interpretive marketing assessments, plans and marketing
 implementation strategies.



We also have a on-line course on creating new site marketing brouchures.  For what they cost - do they pay for themselves and then make a profet (i.e. bring in new visitors)?
          

- Heritage Tourism Development and feasibility analysis.
If you build it - will they really come - when and how often?  What are their willingness to pay for your interpretive experiences?  Your overhead costs vs. revenue analysis.  Real dollar and cents analysis for long term operational (and cash flow) success.


  

- Feasibility analysis for site/facility expansions.  
Follows same approach as above.

- Cost/contact and cost/benefit analysis for interpretive/recreation programs,
 activities, experiences and services.


- Our new Secret Interpreter services for site interpretive assessments and
 critiques.



    Can you find the "secret interpretive evaluator" in this pic?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Prof. John  Veverka - Lead Interpretive Assessment
& Research Consultant.

- B.S and M.S in Heritage Interpretation - The Ohio State University (Taught a course on Interpretive Master Planning - wrote the first Interpretive Planning Text book).

- Ph.D. program in Interpretation at Michigan State University. (Taught introduction and advanced interpretive courses including interpretive planning units.)

- Adjunct Professor Heritage Interpretation (summer heritage tourism institutes) North
Carolina State University, New York State University.

- NAI Certified Interpretive Planner and Trainer

- NAI Fellow

- Certified Professional Heritage Interpreter (Canada).

- Author of several interpretive planning/training college text books.

- Publisher of InterpNEWS - the International Heritage Interpretation e-Magazine
.
- 40 years of interpretive planning, training and interpretive research experience

- Associate Editor, The Journal of Interpretation Research (NAI).

- Senior Instructor, Kansas State University - Global Campus (Interpretive Planning).

Personal Research Focus - Visitor motivations and expectations for selecting and attending interpretive programs and experiences.


Secret Interpreter Program


 


Our new Secret Interpreter Program is sort of like a secret shopper program, and provides sites, agencies and organizations an opportunity to have a non-biased and professional assessment (and problem analysis) of their total site customer care, wayfinding and interpretive services operations.

We are pleased to offer our new "Secret Interpreter" critique and assessment program as part of our expansion for our on-site live interpretive training experiences.  How does the program work?  This is a 3-day interpretive assessment event:

Day One - Meet with the agency/organization site director and senior staff to learn the main interpretive mission, objectives and concerns of the staff to be part of the site/program review.  Develop a "issue" or concerns list to address as part of the on-site review.

Day Two - Site visit and critique from site entrance, welcome, orientation, view and observe visitor movements, attend live interpretive tours or programs, informally chat with education interpretive staff, docents, volunteers - to other on site services (food service, wayfinding, etc.). This assessment is done as a "secret visitor" just enjoying the site and programs as any visitor would.

Day Three - Meeting with site director and senior staff for a debriefing of the previous days site visit and assessment.  What worked well, what needs improvements, and recommendations for changes and improvements with any live interpretive programs, tours or visitor contacts.  This will be followed up with a written experience assessment.

* Option for follow up interpretive staff positive coaching and training is available.

Costs: Interpretive Assessment Program - 3 days as noted:  $2,400.00 plus travel.

We are always flexible and can modify this service to match individual site objectives, missions and issues that would be part of the site assessment.


We currently also manage:

-
The Heritage Interpretation Training Center - offering 33 college level courses in interpretation. http://www.heritageinterp.com/interpretive_training_center_course_catalogue_.html

- The Heritage Interpretation Resource Center - offering lots of free interpretive resource materials. http://www.heritageinterp.com/heritage_interpretation_resource_center.html

-
Our Heritage Interpretation Bookstore. http://www.heritageinterp.com/interpretation_book_store.html

- Publishers of InterpNEWS - the International Heritage Interpretation e-Magazine.
http://www.heritageinterp.com/interpretation_book_store.html  You can review the current and back issues at: www.issue.com/interpnews.  One of our upcoming issue covers.

If you would like to talk more about our evaluation and assessment services please feel free to get in touch.



John Veverka
HITC Director
President, JVA
Certified Professional Heritage Interpreter
jvainterp@aol.com
www.heritageinterp.com




Home Page | Our Range of Services | Interpretive Coaching | Interpretive Planning | Interpretive Plan Outline | Interpretive Training | John Veverka Resume | Qualifications | NEW Advanced Interp. Text Book | InterpNEWS | Library | Expert in Interpretation | JVA NEWS, Courses and Updates | Certificates | Planning/Design of Interpretive Panels | Interpretive Writing | Interpretive Writing Course | Interpretive Trails Course | Interpretive Panels Course | Introduction to Heritage Interpretation Course | Interpretive Planning & Design of Marketing Brochures Course | Training for Interp. Trainers | Interpretive Exhibits Course | Interpretive Master Planning Course | Interpretive Planning for Scenic Byways. | Critiquing and Coaching Interpretive Staff | Advanced Interpretive Planning | Interpretive Training Center Course Catalogue | Interp. for International Visitors course. | Interpretive Exhibits Evaluation | Interp. Center Feasibility Analysis Course. | Interp. for Commercial Tour Providers | Interpretive Researchers Guide for Visitor Studies | Interp. Planning for Historic Homes | Heritage Interpretation Training Center | Interpretive Planning for Botanical Gardens | An introduction to planning and presenting live interpretive programs and tours for Museum/Heritage Site Docents and Volunteers. | Developing Marketing Plans for Heritage & Tourism Sites and Attractions | Interpretation Book Store | Heritage Interpretation Resource Center | Interpretive Planning for Historic Farms | Developing Successful Partnerships | Developing Interpretive Outreach Programs | Community Interpretation Planning | Interpreting Gravestones and Historic Cemeteries | Using Interpretation to Accomplish Management Objectives. | An Interpreters Guide for Survival Economics. | Innovative Strategies for Interpretive Media and Services Planning. | A Curators Guide for Developing Gallery Tours. | Advanced Interpretive Writing - Technical Publications | Page 2 | Advanced Interpretive Services for Managers, Supervisors, Team Leaders and Sr. Staff. | Advanced Interpretation for Chiefs of Interp. - Interpretive Managers - Regional Interp. Specialists | Interpreting Critical Issues. | Developing Commercial Interpretation for Resorts, Cruise Ships, Campgrounds and Tourism Attractions. | Planning and developing a new commercial tour guiding business. | Interpretive Evaluation, Visitor Studies and Site Assessment Center | The Center for Interpretive Planning Advancement & Excellence. | Developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) | Planning and Facilitating Focus Workshops | InterpNEWS Advertising Details | Planning for Interpretive Experiences | 40 Years a Heritage Interpreter | Interpretive Techniques - The Rest of the Story Course | Certified Professional Interpretive Planner Certificate | Certified Professional Interpretive Program | Certified Professional Interpretive Trainer certificate program. | Certified Professional Heritage Interpreter certificate program. | Certified Professional Interpretive Writer certificate program. | Visitor motives for attending interpretive programs. | Exhibit Rehab Course | Developing Training Workbooks & Manuals | Planning for Railroad Museums and Sites. | Climate Change Interpretation Course. | When there's nothing left but the story - interp. storytelling. | Interpreting Legends Myths and Fables | InterpSHARE - Seminars 2022 | Interpreting Invasive Species | Interpretiing Edible Insects | Interpretaive Planning for Climate Change | HITC Climate Crisis Resource Center | PUP Members Only | Starting a new Interp Consulting Business | Panels 4 Week Course | Interpretive Writing - 4 Week Course | Marketing - 4 Week Course | Intro to Interpretation - 4 Week Course | Interp Climate Change - 4 Week Course | Exhibit Rehab 4-Week Course | Level 1 | Johns Interpreters Blog | Economics for Heritage Interpreters | General Site Map
Back to content | Back to main menu