Subject area: Archaeology

LTSN Subject Centre: History, Classics and Archaeology [opens in a new window]

Applicability to other subject areas: This case study will address general issues of digital data use, generalisation, integration of non-digital data, use of symbols to convey information, and simple spatial analysis, and so has applicability to other subject areas where these matters are of importance.

Ease of transferability of ideas to other subject areas: Easily transferable

Level: Entry/intermediate

Participants: This is difficult to estimate, as we are making some changes to our modules. Initially there will be about 20 students involved, all at Durham, but this could increase considerably. Initially, also, I will be doing all the teaching.

Independent study/group work: Independent study, group work, project work, class teaching

Study mode: Full-time (mainly), part-time, undergraduate and taught postgraduate

Pedagogical approach: resource based learning, problem based learning

Teaching methods: lecture, face-to-face, tutorial, workshops

Typical learning time: Again an estimate, but I currently cover essentially what is included in the proposal in the course of one term, with 2-hour practical classes in each of the five weeks (i.e.10 hours), but the students then go on to reinforce their learning by using their skills in other parts of the module.

Prior knowledge required: Basic IT skills and a broad general knowledge of UK archaeology.

Assessment: Assessment will be based mainly on a submitted portfolio of practical work, probably with a short-answer test to monitor understanding of concepts.

Evaluation: Colleagues will be asked to evaluate the materials, and students will submit evaluation questionnaires at the end of teaching. None of these are yet available.

Prior experience: The materials will be based on those I have used in teaching over the last eight years, but they do not yet exist in the final form proposed here.