Making Theory Fun: Combining Archaeological Theory with Active Learning Exercises in Teaching North American Prehistory

Summary

Active learning opportunities within undergraduate archaeology courses enable students to move beyond memorizing culture history. In a North American Archaeology course taught at the University of South Florida, we combine concepts from archaeological theory with active learning exercises specific to North American culture areas. Examples include students weighing the costs and benefits of hunting megafauna with atlatls from varying distances, playing a game centered on Great Basin-themed optimal foraging decisions, recreating a Pacific Northwest Coast potlatch, and partaking in a Cahokian game of chunkey. By incorporating a variety of active learning opportunities, with lectures that welcome student discussion, and readings from popular archaeology topics, a North American Archaeology course becomes an interactive opportunity for undergraduate learning and community-building.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20501