Applications of Cultural Heritage and Digital Preservation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Summary

This paper discusses the application of innovative 3D heritage documentation methods to augment science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. A California-based nonprofit dedicated to the digital documentation and preservation of cultural heritage sites worldwide, CyArk is a leader in digital heritage preservation, archival, and technological advancement. CyArk practices a range of techniques, including 3D laser scanning, high definition photography, and photogrammetry, channeling the resulting data towards future site conservation, interpretation, and development of educational materials.

CyArk will present a case study analyzing the digital preservation of the 18th century Spanish missions along California’s coast, which represent historic El Camino Real. Studied by 450,000 California 4th graders each year, the Missions serve as model classrooms to teach the importance of our shared history. Through interactive lesson plans, students participate in active learning while visiting a mission site, while also engaging in technology and math subjects.

In this discussion of El Camino Real digital preservation collection, CyArk strives to demonstrate the interconnectivity between history, heritage, and digital technology. CyArk believes emphasis on archaeology, cultural heritage preservation, and documentation in the classroom is a strong asset to STEM education, and will support the next generation of cultural heritage and technology advocates.

SAA 2015 abstracts made available in tDAR courtesy of the Society for American Archaeology and Center for Digital Antiquity Collaborative Program to improve digital data in archaeology. If you are the author of this presentation you may upload your paper, poster, presentation, or associated data (up to 3 files/30MB) for free. Please visit http://www.tdar.org/SAA2015 for instructions and more information.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage