Module ARCH3071: COMPUTER TECHNIQUES IN ARCHAEOLOGY

Department: Archaeology

ARCH3071: COMPUTER TECHNIQUES IN ARCHAEOLOGY

Prerequisites

• Archaeological Method and Theory (ARCH2121) OR Professional Training (Techniques of Archaeological Fieldwork) (ARCH2102) OR Applied Archaeological Science (ARCH2041).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The module will provide students with a detailed knowledge of the technical and practical aspects of computer based techniques in archaeology and enable them to appreciate the potential of computer manipulation of data.

Content

• The module provides teaching of technical and practical aspects of the use of computer based techniques in different areas of archaeology.
• These include Archaeology and the Internet: CAD and plan production.
• Digital Image processing and analysis.
• spreadsheet and graphing techniques.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students will have: gained practical experience in computer based manipulation of archaeological data.
• acquired an understanding of the techniques used in the manipulation of digital data.
• an awareness of the potential that computer techniques can offer archaeology.

• Students will have developing competence in transferable skills (detailed below) to the manipulation of archaeological data sets, with regard to:

• Competence in the use of computers and information technology including:
• plan production
• digital image processing and analysis
• spreadsheets
• graphical techniques
• WWW
• computer based planning and presentation.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practicals and self-guided learning.
• It is assessed through practical reports which assesses the various key skills and subject specific skills.
• Lectures will ensure the effective communication of key information and theoretical ideas, supported by reading lists and written summaries of follow-up notes posted on DUO, enabling students to gain up-to-date knowledge.
• Tutorials will focus on discussion and feedback between tutors and students in small groups, in a relatively informal learning environment, enabling students to enhance, discuss, question and receive feedback on their knowledge and to gain experience in oral communication and collaborative group-work.
• Practical classes involve demonstrations and hands-on exercises using computer software, undertaken in small to medium sized groups.
• Self-guided learning comprises personal study, research, revision and evaluation associated with classes and assignments; guided by lecturers, tutors and reading lists of specialist books, articles and web-sites.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University