Teaching with Technology: A Reality in “Trash and Treasure”

This year, in addition to course web sites and the standard “workshopping” of papers and ideas on line, Beth Dusinberre has tried to use technology in her classes in exciting new ways. She made DVDs of her lectures in “Trash and Treasure”, a large undergraduate introduction to classical art and archaeology, to put on reserve in the library for students to watch at their own convenience, to study for exams or to dwell longer on images. She has also sponsored development of an interactive map of ancient Greece, which—among other things—lets students quiz themselves to prepare for in-class map quizzes. She sponsored a Senior Project through the Computer Science department, for which five undergraduates spent all year creating a virtual archaeological dig video game, “Expedition: Osiris.” “Osiris” lets students learn the principles of archaeological interpretation from the perspective of a dig director: after putting together a team of graduate students, specialists, a local foreman and local workers, a player excavates the city of Amarna in Egypt, digging trenches, finding real New Kingdom and Amarna artifacts, and fending off such hazards as marauding crocodiles and cursed mummies. At the end of a season, the player must interpret the function of architecture based on the artifacts found within each room and publish his or her findings. Reviews from colleagues around the world provide feedback on the player’s interpretations, and the player’s own statistics (prestige, know-how, leadership) reflect his or her success as an archaeologist. Grants are then awarded for the next season based on these statistics. Beth plans to try out “Osiris” in Trash and Treasure in fall 2004 and is looking forward to learning the students’ response.