SEN Provision
The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology have a great deal of experience providing high quality educational experiences for Special Educational Needs groups. The case study below provides one example of a recent example.
Shipwrecks of the Wight: Access Through Education
In October 2007, HWTMA were asked by an adult special educational needs group on the Isle of Wight to run a series of four maritime archaeology workshops over consecutive weeks. The response was the ‘Shipwrecks of the Wight' Project which entailed basic training in maritime archaeology, research into local history, a practical foreshore workshop, museum visits and the production of the ‘Shipwrecks of the Wight' map. The project was part of the ALSF funded educational workshops.
HWTMA staff who worked on this venture feel it is one of their most successful education and outreach projects. It was realised from the start that it was important that the adults had ownership of the project and were thoroughly involved. This was achieved through listening to the responses and feedback from the group at a series of discussions. The project naturally evolved to become something that specifically related to their individual needs and consequently led to it being thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Day One focused on general maritime archaeology training, during which the group were given an illustrated talk about their local maritime heritage in the waters of the Solent and Wight. This was interlaced with practical activities and artefact handling and discussion.
On Day Two the group were taken to a beach to do foreshore survey on some local hulks. They practised skills such as measuring, drawing and recording, and were also encouraged to rely on their own natural observation and interpretation abilities. An emphasis on encouraging all interpretations and on everyone's ideas being valued was very important to this project. The group then combed the beach for interesting artefacts that could be included in their project display.
Day Three was split between a fascinating visit to a local maritime museum, and the start of the final project. The final project aimed to show-case the group's work and research they had developed over previous weeks. After group consultation it was decided that a large map based collage of the ‘Shipwrecks of Wight' would be produced, alongside final project report folders and video interviews.
Day Four commenced with great excitement because TV archaeologist Julian Richards had become interested in the groups work and wanted to see what they were up to. He was working on a report that evaluated projects that had been carried out through ALSF funding, and he deemed this project to be exceptional. The resulting outcome was a stunning map collage, some beautifully illustrated project reports and a group from the Isle of Wight who had become as enthusiastic about maritime archaeology as HWTMA staff!
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