The Reach of Outreach

[troll]

How much extra would it cost to provide local schools/colleges with a copy of the grey literature resulting from local fieldwork? Is the placing of grey literature within an SMR enough? Some would argue that much of the accumulated SMR data is now widely available in a number of formats....I would argue that the literature is predominantly cast in exclusive, dry and largely bland language and churned out as Borg-like images of others.

It surely wouldn`t require too much of an effort to deliver accessible, interesting and targetted material to local schools upon completion of local fieldwork. Are professional units here to provide local councils with data or- are they in a position to actually make a contribution to society on the whole and in particular-raise the profile of the finite resource on a local basis?

Archaeology is still seen as one of those jobs that happens somewhere else and most members of the public have only encountered an archaeologist on the telly. Why are we not embedded within our local catchment areas in meaningful ways? Why is archaeology continuing to exist as a secretive "Hogwarts" dormitory in the 21st century? Interaction with our local communities and schools would raise the profile of the profession and ultimately-raise the value of our finite resource. Any takers? Any examples of units that disseminate in meaningful and targetted formats on a local basis?

[tmsarch]

A very important issue, it takes a little bit of effort but the positive gains are surely worth it. It is also a great opportunity to add value to archaeological work - positive PR is something developers can recognise the value of.

The cost of providing schools/colleges with a copy of grey-literature reports for local schools would surely be minimal, but - as Troll points out - how accessible or interesting is the average grey-literature report? In addition should we not be looking to engage local schools, societies and community before the grey-literature report is finished - let's get them involved whilst the archaeology is being undertaken. I know there will be occasions where this isn't possible, but more can be done than is being done at present.

Troll asks for examples of units who do this - I can think of one company local to me who produces small A4 or A5 double-sided leaflets for some of its projects (what's been found, a plan of the site, some good images) - copies distributed to local residents, schools, libraries, etc - not a full report, but it is getting the information out there (quickly and whilst the project is fresh in the communities mind). The developer's logo and funding acknowledgment is included and the developer is given copies for their own use - for example a copy included with the home-buyers pack for each of the new houses in their development.

The web is also a great opportunity. Some of the bigger units are getting onboard with social media - blogs, facebook, twitter, flickr are all being used.

Or how about this project I came across from a couple of years back (http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/thanearth.html) - regular updated web-page, good coverage in local media, local metal detecting clubs being engaged in the archaeological process, hands-on visits for YAC groups, visits to local schools and object handling sessions, schools visiting the site, public talks, public open-days and site tours, information leaflet (http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/PDF/webversion.pdf) and lots of pictures and videos on the web-site. Quote from the above about getting school children onto an active archaeological/construction site - "Logistics are challenging ... but interesting" - true, but surely worth it and to be applauded.

Troll is totally right - we need to do more, but it can be done and the results are worth while.

[kevin wooldridge]

I don't think that producing an interesting narrative from the staid conventions of most UK grey literature is that difficult a task (although I am sure someone will tell us that the time spent will cut into the profitablity of all UK commerical archaeology).

The format used by many online magazines (such as Past Horizons) of uploaded PDFs would seem to me to be ideal for this purpose. Whether provided to school, libraries, record offices etc in digital format or hosted on a dedicated website, I can't see a great deal of cost involved and as both Troll and Tmsarch say its a great way to raise the profile of archaeology and disemminate something of what we do to a wider audience..... The sort of thing that the British Archaeology awards should recognise maybe....

[Comarch]

Firstly - GIVE ME THE JOB AND I WILL DO IT. Look, it is not enough to ask if the SMR record can be used in schools (or anywhere else). The answer is obviously yes. If you have someone qualified in archaeology and experience in presentation/education to do it. That person will have to work with the person(s) who dug the site(s) to understand the interpretation of the evidence and make it into something that kids can understand. Most archaeologists will not be able to do this. To have someone go in and mumble away about stratigraphy and the Harris Marix will kill off any interest the kids may have in the past as being relevant to them. As I have said before, to paraphrase, "its the story stupid". The CBA are setting up training soon for CAs but in the meantime units and individuals are, as usual, trying to get a cheap rate deal on public archaeology. If they can get someone with some spare time to do it for nothing they will. A slap in the face for the people out there. If we are going to do this lets do it properly.

[kevin wooldridge]

No offence Comarch (and sympathies on the jobs front) but I was thinking of cutting out the middle person and getting the person who dug the site to write the popular narrative at or about the same time they are writing the report. I really don't see what a CBA sponsored course can add to that .... its honestly not difficult and if you're good enough to write the report. to my mind you should be capable of writing an accessible narrative...

[troll]

Lots of positive stuff. I think that most would agree that there is much more as a community that we could do within our own communities. Just a thought......

What if.....we were to sound out commercial units and see if any of them would sign up to a voluntary "scheme" where local schools (either in the area where we have worked or in our own catchment areas) could be provided with material written to a pitch set by the education providers? It just seems to be such a shame that so much information lands cold on the desks of SMRs and is not used to help kids understand their historic environment. If I understand this correctly, Comarch is quite right in the assertion that any material would have to be both inspiring and pitched at the right level. I agree wholeheartedly with that. I would argue however, to mirror the sentiments of Mister Wooldridge-that there are plenty of capable archaeologists out there who would fit the bill admirably. I think the obvious compromise to both standpoints is that we should consult with the professional education providers at the outset. Is that a way forwards?

I do realise that there are probably a goodly few units that already reach out to the community and what I`m suggesting here is that we formalise those efforts and target schools specifically with materials derived from the fruits of our local labours. A voluntary agreement to a "scheme" of this sort may just grow into something to be proud of and in my experience would be a two-way thing. I worked for a couple of schools in the past and I honestly got as much-if not more-out of the experience than the kids! Early days yet, but what do you think?:face-approve:

[deadlylampshade]

Music to my ears having just left seven years of training design to come back to archaeology thinking I would have to leave it all behind...used to love doing site tours for schools dum de dum years ago at the permanent site where I used to work...can be so much fun, brings the archaeology to life and makes you think too about the best way to present the work to an audience at the right level.

As with all training/education, however, it lives - or dies - with the 'delivery' person...

[BAJR]

Excellent thread... and I think it is tapping into a Zeitgeist of putting the info out there.. recently I posted about Oxford Archaeology and there archive http://library.thehumanjourney.net and of course Wessex here: http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/reports lets not forget what Digital Past are trying to get moving with Open Archive... http://www.openarchive.co.uk/


The secret is taking a report and making it useful for kids... one of the things I am working on just now is a kids trail round a house.. and like outreach people who are a damn sight better than me - its all about delivery as Deadly says. THe kids have to go away excitied and the teachers inspired... and then ther has to be follow up where they can actually do something with what they have. (I am now also involved in a big yearlong project with art and archaeology plus some sand pit digs followed up by a mystery to be solved dig on a lost mill pond - where there was a drowning in teh 19th century... Where is the pond? was it deep? what did it go to? Who was the person who died? and why? - as one part of this... however, I digress.

One trusthas a great selection of downloads for schools, that targets where they are and what they can actually get out and do... http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/eduindex.htm

and of course here is a structured plan :
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year7link...eets.shtml

[Dinosaur]

The last popular leaflet (A4 folded in 3) I was asked to write on a site I dug, by the time everyone concerned had got their company logos on it, a postage-stamp sized reconstruction drawing and a piccy of some pots, and a paragraph on how successful and smoothly run the whole exercise had been, my text got shrunk to 'there used to be a castle here, we dug some holes, found some stuff and now it's a block of flats' - so yes, it's dead easy to write this kind of popular and educational material :face-approve:

[vulpes]

Oh, and lets not forget the OASIS grey literature library which contains a rapidly growing resource of over 5000 reports http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/greylit/index.cfm

This site and resource is essentially the Industry standard and continues to develop as it enjoys the supoort of ALGAO, IfA, EH etc...

How could you possibly forget to mention it BAJR?