Bertram C. Bruce: Dr. Bruce is a Professor of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Conner Prairie adapted his theory on dialogue engagement into the museum’s research design for the learning study. His central interest is in understanding how people learn, and then, in how a learning perspective informs studies of the nature of knowledge, community, democratic participation, technology, and literacy. It draws on the theory of inquiry and on studies situated in community action.

Kay Cunningham: Kay Cunningham recently retired from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis after 27 years of work in the education and exhibit development departments, ending her career as the Vice President of Education and Experience Development. She came to the museum with a background in education and with experience in the field of Early Childhood Education, earning both a Bachelor and Master of Science in this field from Southern Illinois University.

Lynn Dierking: Lynn Dierking is an expert in the field of educational research and has published extensively on the subject of museum learning. Dr. Dierking is Associate Director of the Institute for Learning Innovation, a 501(c)3 research and development organization, working in the field of museums, cultural institutions and other informal learning settings (community-based organizations, libraries, scientific societies & humanities councils). She is internationally recognized for her research on the behavior and learning of children, families and adults in informal learning settings and has published extensively in these areas. Her research priorities include: Learning in diverse settings (with particular emphasis on museums), the long-term impact of informal educational experiences on individuals and families and the evaluation of community-based programs.

Brandon Lagana: Dr. Brandon Lagana has a background in adult learning techniques and strategies. He provided Conner Prairie with input about effective approaches to sharing information with adults during the planning stages for the DVD and facilitated several staff development workshops for museum employees. Dr. Lagana currently serves as the Director of Admissions at the University of Maine- Farmington.

Mary Theresa Seig: Dr. Mary Theresa Seig is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the English Department at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. With an initial BSU New Faculty Grant, Dr. Seig began investigating the linguistic evidence of schematic understanding in conversations. This analysis has been instrumental in enabling Conner Prairie staff at a variety of levels to restructure visitor/interpreter interactions. As the lead investigator for learning studies, and as a workshop clinician for the staff, Dr. Seig has collaborated closely with a development team from Conner Prairie to analyze the discourse of learning in visitor/interpreter interactions. In addition, she brought her expertise to bear throughout the instructional design process for the Opening Doors to Great Guest Experiences DVD/CD-ROM.

Roy Underhill: Roy Underhill is one of the country’s leading authorities on live interpretation in history museums. He has long experience as an interpreter and program developer at Colonial Williamsburg and runs continuing programs around the country to develop interactive communication skills. Mr. Underhill, who is a member of the faculty of the Seminar for Historical Administration, recently published Khrushchev’s Shoe and Other Ways to Captivate an Audience of 1 to 1000, which applies modern intelligence theory to free choice leaning.

Institute for Museum and Library Services
American Association for State and Local History
Creative Street Media Group
Ball State University graduate students
Eric White
Denny O’Toole, Coordinator- Seminar for Historic Administration
Mary Kay Cunningham, Interpretive Consultant http://www.visitordialogue.com/
Andrea deTarnowsky, T.C. Steele Historic Site
Cathy Burton, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Elee Wood, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
Barbara Wolf, Indiana University
Connie Graft, Colonial Williamsburg
Trina Nelson Thomas, Indiana Historical Society
Josh Estes, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Claire Wilcher, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
David Scofield, Director- Meadowcroft Rockshelter Museum of Rural Life
Fran Skariot and Bonnie Sanford; Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life
Rick Finch, Site Manager- Fort Meigs State Memorial, Ohio Historical Society
Norma Flores, Adam Sakel and Dan Woodward; Fort Meigs State Memorial
Terry Davis, President & CEO- AASLH
Tim Essig, Steve Miller and April Franz; Landis Valley Museum
Lisa Hayes, Compass Inn Museum
Jessica Stricker, Carnegie Science Center
Steve Sitarski, Independence Hall
Staff at Independence Hall
Staff at Carnegie Science Center
Staff at Please Touch Museum
Staff at Landis Valley Museum

Jane Hetrick
Tim Crumrin
Nancy Stark
Aili McGill
Dale Tomasi
Vinona Christensen
Mary Theresa Seig
Elaine Selmier, Creative Street Producer
Dave Allison, Junior Project Manager
Ken Bubp, Project Manager
Dan Freas, Project Director

Brianna Steward
Elizabeth Foster
Mike Goss
Erin Brown
Aili McGill
C. Keith Collins
John Elder
Vinona Christensen
Dave Allison
Linda Cummings
Christy Brocken
Fred Rauch
Dick Hollingsworth
Meggie Lyzenga
Kevyn Miller
Enzo Ferroli
Sheila Sims

We’d like to extend a very special thanks to Dr. Mary Theresa Seig for her “above and beyond” contributions to this project.