Electronic Media and their implementation in Higher Education teaching and learning. An archaeological prospective

Electronic Media and their implementation in Higher Education teaching and learning.An archaeological prospective

The sequence of eventsPart I: Introduction; aims and limitations;Part II: Background to past CAL attempts in the UK;Part III: Archaeological CAL applications in the UK;Part IV: The current situation regarding CAL in the UK Universities;Part V: Putting things in perspective;

Part I: Introduction; aims and limitations

Aims of the projectTo explain and promote the use of e-media in teaching in HE today;To perform a survey of organisations that have aided or hindered the promotion of CAL;To focus on the use of CAL in the archaeology undergraduate curriculum;And finally to examine the current situation of CAL in the UK.


How will I achieve these?By a thorough research on the available literature on Computers in Teaching Initiative (CTI)By a research on the archaeological CAL applications in the past twenty years andBy a series of interviews with some of the people involved in those early initiatives such as CTICH and TLTP, as well as the LTSN.


Part II: Background to past CAL attempts in the UK

The birth of CTIIn 1985 the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils provided funding for the CTI.Report from the National Committee of Enquiry in HE(the Dearing Report) emphasizing the importance of C&IT in the learning experience.CTIs mission:to maintain and enhance the quality of learning and increase the effectiveness of teaching through the application of appropriate learning technologies.


The role of CTISS24 Subject Centres coordinated by the CTISS.Promoting the use of CAL in academic departments.Publishing the journal Active Learning and a handbook in 1997 titled C&IT for teaching and learning in HE.


However...,The CTISS, did not provide any assistance when it came to delivery of the teaching packages. It was left to the institutions.

Part II: Backround to past CAL attempts in the UK

The birth of TLTPIn March 1992 the UFC and the HEFCs approved funds of 5M for TLTPThe aim of TLTP was to make teaching and learning more productive and efficient by harnessing modern technology. This will help institutions to respond effectively to the current substantial growth in student numbers, and to promote and maintain the quality of their provision (UFC, 1992, p1).

Part II: Backround to past CAL attempts in the UK

The birth of TLTP The same document goes on to say: productivity gains should be quantified, in terms of staff time released, additional teaching hours of student learning hours obtained, and through other suitable measures(ibid. p2).


The birth of LTSNEstablished on the 1st January 2000.It took up the role of the old CTISSIts aim was to promote high quality learning and teaching by providing subject-based support for sharing innovations and good practices (Craft, 2000, no.20, p2)


Part III: Archaeological CAL applications in the UK

CTICHCTICH was established in 1989It was developed from a CTI phase 1 project, DISH, which begun in 1985Its immediate role was to promote the use of computers in the teaching of History Archaeology and Art History. Two projects gained funding: The SyGraf virtual excavation and the Leicester Interactive Videodisk project.


CTICHCTICH from the start focused on resource based learning through which students learned how to interrogate a primary source (as a database or in another format) in order to develop their own interpretations and challenge those of others(Craft, 2000, no. 20, p.3).Craft the centres newsletter, served as a hub of communication and exchange of new ideas.


The threefold role of CTICHEvangelicalTraining Implementing


TLTP Archaeology ConsortiumTLTP coordinated by the CTICHThe tutorials would utilise hypertext, numerical dates, image banks, graphics and motion video as appropriate in order to introduce students to basic archaeological concepts as well as computer based methods of data manipulation. It is envisaged that the tutorials will form an electronic ring-binder from which departments can pick parts relevant to their widely different syllabi (Campbell, 1993, p217).


Some TLTP productsArchTutor-Developed at Edinburgh UniversityBritish Prehistory-Developed at York UniversityBoth were used in the 1997 first year undergraduate teaching at Glasgow University Archaeology Department

Part III: Archaeological CAL applications in the UK.

The benefits of their use at Glasgow UniversityFewer practicals and excursions were needed.Staff productivity increased. You could now teach larger classes with the same teaching burden.Student access to relevant information has been improvedTeamwork and communication amongst students was encouraged. (Campbell & Shaw, 1998)


Windig It was not designed to teach how to excavate.Focused on project management and interpretation of dataNo correct answersMore realisticWindig like SyGraf ,teaches how excavation stategies can be developed and modified, and the nature of the relationships between methods data and interpretation. (Richards,1991).


Part IV: The current situation regarding CAL in UK Universities

To be considered:The available infrastructure both at institutional level as well as a centralised government level;how does the student feel towards electronic teaching and whether they will be able to cope with the new resources;the training that needs to be provided and how far the resources are available and what will be the cost incurred from the production of e-media teaching and learning packages; both in financial as well as staff availability areas.

Part IV:The current situation regarding CAL in UK universities

However, already... Students have a sufficient IT background when entering their fist year;major government bodies like AHDS and JISC are well funded to support such initiatives;more datasets are available to lecturers to produce their own courseware if they want to;LTSN has received generous funding from the HEFCs. It is the continuation of CTI and TLTP and its future looks promising.

Part IV:The current situation regarding CAL in UK Universities

Part V: Putting things into perspective

Dates that may matter...CTI founded in 1985CTICH established in 1989/90-1999TLTP Archaeology Consortium: 1992-96ADS established in 1997LTSN established in 2000

Part V:Putting things into perspective

The timing of this projectRecent press commenting on similar issuesADS with JISC funding creating the PATOIS tutorialsInternet Archaeology devoting the next issue on e-media in current undergraduate archaeological teachingThe time is now

Part V: Putting things into perspective

Documents

Electronic Media and their implementation in Higher Education teaching and learning. An archaeological prospective