Archaeology of the north american southwest
​course design and learning outcomes 

WEEK 1:  UNDERSTANDING ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE PRE-CONTACT SOUTHWEST 
Our focus at the beginning of the course is building the foundational knowledge necessary for a productive learning experience during our Week 2 field trip. The information presented and discussions are also essential for understanding the rest of the course. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing Week 1, you should be able to: 
  • Describe the the broad outlines of the diverse and dynamic culture history (who, what, when, where) of the SW by relying on peer-reviewed archaeological journals as sources  
  • Identify the difference between observations and inferences, describe the role of inference in archaeology, and the strengths and weaknesses of inference as a way of interpreting the past
  • Describe what archaeology is and how it is practiced 
  • Apply visual learning strategies to SW material culture
  • Attain a beginner's level understanding of key terms/concepts of archaeological practice 
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Group presentations on Ancestral Puebloan, Hohokam, Sinagua, Patayan, Mogollon, Trincheras, and Casas Grandes (archaeological) cultures. These presentations will prepare you for the field trip, inform your answers on the final exam, and help you get to know each other
  • Key Concepts Quiz (attempt 1)
  • Participation/attendance
Week 2:  FIELD TRIP
To learn about the Southwest we must do more than read and think---we must move, see, and feel. Movement has been a way of life for millenia in the Southwest. My hope is that our movements through the northern SW will ignite a sense of discovery, a respect for the past and present Native peoples of the region, and a passion for learning more about the SW.  I also hope to transform that way you look at a landscape so that you will see (and feel) the traces of past peoples.   
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing Week 2, you should be able to: 
  • Look at the settlement plans, architecture, material culture, and environment of visited sites to make inferences about the lifeways and lives of the people who built and lived in these places
  • Describe specific aspects of Ancestral Puebloan culture histories and material culture
  • Describe the cultural and archaeological significance of the sites we visit. 
  • Apply visual learning strategies to the archaeological sites we visit
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • All students will keep a journal during the field trip to record information and reflections on what was learned and what was considered
  • Insights and information gained during the trip will contribute to your answers on the take-home exam during Week 3 and 4. 
  • Active and positive contribution to the group's learning and collaboration
Week 3:  THEMES AND ISSUES IN SOUTHWESTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
Following our return from the field trip we will deepen our understanding of some key archaeological research questions, activities and issues. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this section, you should be able to: 
  • Identify key themes in Southwestern archaeology
  • Describe archaeology's relevance in the world today
  • Evaluate if and how the past can inform the present
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Participation/attendance
  • Exam 1
  • Key Concepts Quiz (attempt 2)
Week 4: THE ETHICS OF ENCOUNTERING THE PAST AND SYNTHESIZING WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
​We conclude the course by considering the relevance of archaeology in the world today.  We 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 and provide examples of how Native peoples have been marginalized by and occasionally have benefited from archaeological practice.
  • Attain an intermediate level understanding of key terms/concepts of archaeological practice 
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Book: Living Histories
  • ​Exam 2 (Take home)
  • Key Concepts Quiz (attempt 3)