Date of Award
12-2013
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Anthropology
First Advisor
Dr. Michael S. Nassaney
Second Advisor
Dr. LouAnn Wurst
Third Advisor
Dr. Kristina Wirtz
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Archaeological public outreach to children can be enhanced through collaboration with school educators. While archaeologists have begun to collaborate with local and descendant communities, they have been slow to engage in work with educators in the same manner. The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project provides the context for me to explore some of the current issues in public archaeology and the politics of education. My study was conducted to better understand the needs of both children and teachers. In my work with the archaeological summer camp for middle school students I seek to conceptualize how the camp enhances their educational experience and how they understand their own formal schooling. My goal in working with educators is to better understand their classroom and educational philosophies as they relate to collaborative projects. I argue that it is important to teach through archaeology rather than about it so that archaeology is a tool for critical thinking with the ultimate goal of empowering people to create their own knowledge and to engage in the world around them.
Recommended Citation
D’Elia, Erica A., "An Assessment of Public Outreach with Children and Educators Conducted by the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project" (2013). Masters Theses. 430.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/430