The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology are at the forefront of maritime archaeology education. Our wide and varied education programme has much to offer at all levels.
Engaging Young People
Over the last few years the HWTMA have branched out into educational initiatives aimed at younger people both in and out of school. The aim was to encourage interest in maritime archaeology from a young age and to date this seems to be working. Archaeology is seldom taught in schools as a separate discipline, it is therefore the case that we must raise its profile to further increase its accessibility and appeal. In this way we hope to inspire young people to learn about maritime archaeology so that they take it further into a higher education course or simply gain an appreciation that stays with them throughout life.
Working within the National Curriculum
The HWTMA have a great deal to offer schools. Whilst at first glance maritime archaeology might not sit within the National Curriculum a second look reveals the cross curricular nature of the subject. Maritime archaeology can illuminate the practical application of many school subjects including history, geography and the sciences. Literacy and enjoyment of language feature heavily within our educational resources. An imaginative and adaptable approach is needed to demonstrate the value of maritime archaeology as a tool to engage pupils with core subjects within the curriculum. Our primary challenge is to overcome this obstacle and continue to push archaeology into teaching wherever possible. Archaeology can present core subjects in an interesting and imaginative light, whilst demonstrating its relevance to our understanding of the past. We therefore have three basic objectives:
- To generate interest in archaeology as a subject that can be integrated within the curriculum
- To create an awareness of archaeology to inspire pupils to
- continue to learn about archaeology in further and higher education
- To support those pupils that do continue into further and higher education
Higher Education and Adult Learning
The HWTMA can offer a varied work experience programme, providing a rich learning opportunity for students. These placements are often used to fulfil work experience modules, as many students realise that to increase their understanding, interest and likelihood of employment following university it is essential to take part in as much real maritime archaeology as possible. Our non-student volunteers - called the ‘Friends of the Trust’ - constitute a thoroughly mixed group of people who join in with our activities for a variety of reasons: many have a keen interest in their maritime heritage that they want to build on. Others are interested in participating to learn more generally about archaeology, many of our volunteers cannot dive and therefore make the most of the non-diving elements of our work, which in reality is a more common way to get involved. Whatever way students and other volunteers join in, this sort of participation offers a direct and tangible appreciation of maritime archaeology that they are likely to remember and learn from far more than attending many lectures!
Educational Resources and Exhibitions
To complement our educational strategies we have a range of educational resources including Secrets of the Solent, Aggregate Loan Packs and Professor Archie O’Logy’s Fun World CD. These are constantly being revised and updated. Generally the most useful resource for older students is our extensive library of project based research and information that has been compiled over the years. Not only can students search through written information, but Trust staff are always on hand to share their expertise. Students come from far and wide to use the HWTMA resources and to develop their own research.
The HWTMA have a number of temporary displays and exhibitions throughout the community. The permanent display at the Underwater Archaeology Centre provides a wonderful learning resource for everyone who visits inspiring people Centre provides a wonderful learning resource for everyone who visits, inspiring through a variety of different media.
The Future of Education at the HWTMA
Feedback from our educational initiatives has been extremely positive both from teachers and students. Almost 9,000 copies of our education packs have been requested and in 2007 we exhibited for the first time at the Education Show in Birmingham where we had access to over 16,000 teachers. We are now in a position to share our experience and knowledge with other educators through schemes such as our Maritime Archaeology Access and Learning Workshops. The HWTMA education programme looks strong for the future and we will continue to be at the forefront of maritime archaeology education, enthusing and inspiring the maritime archaeologists of tomorrow.