Project Archaeology: Assessing Paper and Digital Approaches to Online Learning

Summary

Project Archaeology is a comprehensive national archaeology education program, jointly sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management and Montana State University, which uses archaeological inquiry to foster understanding of past and present cultures; improve social studies and science education; and enhance citizenship education to help preserve our archaeological legacy. To date it has reached more than 15,000 educators with curriculum guides, activity guides, and professional development. These educators reach an estimated 300,000 learners each year in classrooms and informal settings.

Since 2003 the Investigating Shelter units - teacher-led and designed for upper elementary to middle school students - have been available both digitally online, and as printed materials. The units present both archaeological practice and discoveries through different types of shelter – a Tipi, a slave cabin, and an Earthlodge. The online version allowed for the addition of interactive elements and media, potentially supporting different learning styles. Based on classroom research, and situated in a broader literature, this paper will discuss the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the digital component and traditional models for teaching archaeology and digital literacy, and consider plans for future assessment.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22157