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+--- Thread: A misunderstanding with who we are... (/showthread.php?tid=20)
A misunderstanding with who we are... - rachstebbs - 11th January 2006
There is the (very) odd mention of SMR, but just a fleeting reference, no information about how you get information from it or indeed where it is usually kept. I've heard about the CRM module, and have been told its fine if you have done a placement, because you already know what they are talking about. If you're going in cold it can get dull and confusing! No idea about Shetland, I stuck to Wales!
I am very tempted by the Oxford MSc, and there is a similar one at Sussex which sounds very interesting, but haven't met anyone who has done it there yet. Only problem is the finance, think if I started a collection now I would have enough by time I graduate next summer!
A misunderstanding with who we are... - the invisible man - 11th January 2006
Be warned, it is expensive though. The extra fees SNM spoke of is a college fee on top of the normal tuition fee (you have to belong to a college) and is not cheap - a couple of grand I think. I have anidea it adds up to 4 or 5 big 'uns (please someone correct me if I'm wrong, it's a while since I flirted with the idea).
You can do it part time over 2 years if you are working in archaeology, or you do those placements if you do it full time (1 year).
We owe the dead nothing but the truth.
A misunderstanding with who we are... - disheartened - 11th January 2006
Thinking back on my first year in bradford, a few years ago now, we had to do a group project, which I think was in a module called Monuments and Landscape (?). What I recall from the hazy days was that it was basically a group desktop evaluation of a site, I think it may have been a deserted medieval village site, which definitely involved using local SMRs. Did you not have anything like that?
A misunderstanding with who we are... - mercenary - 11th January 2006
Keep in mind that universities are working in a market for students and if they are not preparing students for work after uni they are not doing their job.
I know I'm going to get flack now from those who hang on to the belief that education is to educate the mind and not to learn job skills, but back in the 21st century it is clear that a number of students and former students on this forum feel they have been let down by their uni's.
At TAG 2 years ago there was a supposed discussion about this very subject, and I've never seen such a spectacular back-slapping, point missing spectacle as that put on by the university leaders. The students and professionals made it very clear that they wanted better preparation for the working world. The academics didn't agree.
It should be pretty easy to inform potential students to the universities that are willing to train students properly. This thread is a case in point. Bradford seems to come out quite well, and I'm sure it has influenced prospective students. Maybe we should have a regular thread entitled "so you've decided to waste your life in archaeology, where can you at least get trained properly?"
A misunderstanding with who we are... - rachstebbs - 12th January 2006
Monuments and Landscapes didn't teach much at all, yes there is a project like that but we had lots of people in our group and so everyone had a different 'job' to do. the only mention of the SMR I can recall is that we put it on a list of things we would look at if we were doing a real desktop evaluation. The main aim of the exercise appeared to be to teach us how to budget money...
Bradford does appear to be one of the best for practical training, but only if you choose to do the placement. They do offer specialist modules too, which are excellent if you choose to go into a sciency aspect of archaeology. It does make me think, though that the league tables which put them 18/25 are utter BS. Bournemouth is 24th... Anyone else thinking that in 10 years time we will have thousands of academics running round and about 3 diggers.... We have to get this issue addressed soon!
A misunderstanding with who we are... - star-nosed mole - 12th January 2006
Yep, Invisible your memory serves you correctly - is about 4-5 big uns and that's before you start trying to live anywhere near Oxford!
From my Sheffield experience, we did get a module called post-ex in the 3rd year, when we learnt about basic law, smrs, english heritage, jobs, boxes (yes...boxes) in museums etc. So pretty good on that front, but not much actual practical visiting SMR etc. We were taught (v. briefly) how to write a desk-top report too... most people did quite badly I recall!
I think that the people who know they really want to get stuck in do it outside of uni anyway - volunteer on sites, get a commercial job in the hols, use the SMR for their dissertation etc.
A misunderstanding with who we are... - rachstebbs - 12th January 2006
Quote:quote:Originally posted by star-nosed moleYeah most people do get stuck in and volunteer outside uni if they want a career. However the point is we shouldn't have do that to learn the basics. Why should I come out of uni after 4 years nearly ?15,000 in debt and then have to learn the real aspects of the job and the day to day practicalities? I really think most students are being failed, because they just don't get taught the right stuff.
I think that the people who know they really want to get stuck in do it outside of uni anyway - volunteer on sites, get a commercial job in the hols, use the SMR for their dissertation etc.
BTW this is not aimed at any universities in particular, its a sweeping generalisation!
A misunderstanding with who we are... - 1man1desk - 12th January 2006
Quote:quote:Originally posted by star-nosed mole
I think that the people who know they really want to get stuck in do it outside of uni anyway - volunteer on sites, get a commercial job in the hols, use the SMR for their dissertation etc
Of course, that only gives people access to certain parts of the profession, and doesn't really give them much idea about the range of careers available in archaeology or what is involved in those careers.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished