Good morning all,
I'm currently acting as Academic Associate for Archaeology for the
Higher Education Academy. I would like to organise a session at this
year's TAG conference (Theoretical Archaeology Group) in Bournemouth
(16-18 December) aimed at postgraduates and new teaching staff. The
session would focus on the use of artefacts and texts in teaching in
higher education. I would very much like to have input from museums. If
any of you have experience of working with undergraduate students or
lecturers and would like to offer a paper - do let me know.
The session abstract is -
This session will explore good practice in teaching archaeology and
related subjects through using artefacts and texts.
Many archaeology undergraduates are now studying joint honours or
courses that integrate archaeology with other disciplines, such as
history and classics. There are significant methodological differences
between the teaching cultures of these subjects. Many higher education
teachers may not feel confident about teaching beyond their immediate
area of expertise by analyzing historical texts in an archaeology
course. Yet, interdisciplinary learning provides a richer student
experience and can enhance learning outcomes and employability.
Teachers need to feel confident to develop their existing teaching
practices by incorporating material or approaches from subjects outside
their area of direct experience.
One good source of archaeological evidence for use in teaching is the
collections held in museums and other heritage organisations. These
rich teaching resources are extensively used by schools, but relatively
underused in undergraduate teaching. There is clear benefit to the
students in engaging with material culture in their learning. Teaching
staff would also benefit from contact with museum educators, whose
approach to learning is based on engagement with artefacts, having
skills notably lacking in traditional academic teaching practice.
This workshop is intended to address the disjuncture between the study
of textual and material sources in the historical and cultural
disciplines and to empower teaching staff with theories, examples and
practical tools that enable them to introduce elements of
inter-disciplinary teaching.
We welcome practical and traditional papers from those with experience
they would like to share.
Best wishes,
Don Henson
Academic Associate for Archaeology
Higher Education Academy
I am also Hon. Director of CASPAR
Centre for Audio-Visual Study and Practice in Archaeology
Institute of Archaeology
University College London
and a Freelance Consultant in Public Archaeology and Education
See my web pages at
http://www.independent.academia.edu/DonHenson
http://nowthenuk.wordpress.com
and my new book, Doing Archaeology, at
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415602129/
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