Doing Archaeology, course design, and learning outcomes 

COURSE KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After completing this course, you should be able to: 
  • document an archaeological site and participate in archaeological survey work
  • describe, with specific examples, the goals, methods, opportunities, and challenges (both scientific and ethical) of archaeology as a method of understanding the past. 
  • describe how the key archaeological methods and concepts of inference, survey, sampling, stratigraphy, excavation, and chronology building are used by archaeologists
WEEK 1:  UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARCHAEOLOGY IS AND HOW IT IS PRACTICED 
Our focus at the beginning of the course is building a foundational knowledge of archaeology. The information presented, methods learned, and discussions are also essential for understanding the rest of the course. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing Week 1, you should be able to: 
  • Explain how the scientific method is applied in archaeological research with emphasis on the role of research questions and research designs
  • Define an inference, the role of inference in archaeology, and the strengths and weaknesses of inference as a way of knowing
  • Describe some key archaeological methods (survey, sampling, stratigraphy, excavation, and chronology building) and correctly use many of these terms in archaeological discussions
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Key Concepts Quiz
  • In-class activities (e.g., Cactus Ruin and sampling activity)
  • Application activities
  • Effort and engagement
Week 2:  BUILDING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SKILLS and UNDERSTANDING THE ETHICAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WORK
Archaeology involves both conceptual and methodological approaches. We'll build some foundational skills with an emphasis on technical writing - a necessary archaeological skill!
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing Week 2, you should be able to: 
  • Identify and practice technical writing at a beginner to intermediate level 
  • Understand the Native Americans have shaped archaeoloigcal practice in the SW and how archaeological practice has influenced Native communiites 
  • Produce scatterplots describing the statistical relationship between an independent and dependent variables
  • Describe the challenge of separating correlation from causation
  • Describe the components of an archaeological field report
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Field notebook
  • Key concepts quiz
  • Climate and Human Behavior and Interpret an Archaeological Site projects. 
  • Effort and engagement
Week 3:  DOCUMENTING AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
Documentation is the primary way sites are protected and the past is interpreted. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this section, you should be able to: 
  • Map and record and archaeological site using a GPS device and GIS software
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Key concepts quiz
  • Application activities
  • Final Field Report
Week 4:  REPORTING RESULTS
Reporting the results of our research to both public and professional audiences is essential and you will learn how to do both. We also consider the questions:  who "owns" the past and who should take care of it?  We will also struggle with the dilemmas these questions pose.  Finally, we consider how and if the past can provide insights into the present to address modern problems such as the sustainability of social and ecological systems. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this section, you should be able to: 
  • Describe the role of reporting research results to the public
  • Craft a public presentation of research results
  • Write a final field work report
  • Describe what archaeology is and how it is practiced 
  • Describe archaeology's relevance in the world today
  • Evaluate if and how the past can inform the present
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Insights from the past case study or essay
  • Final field report
  • Public presentation
  • Key concepts quiz
  • Participation/attendance