The DELTA project proposes the design and development of an open course that combines the physical space of the excavation field with the digital space (virtual excavation, online learning) with the aid of the new technology. More specifically, the project proposes the development of an innovative course that will train students in digital and 21st century competences and the use of new technologies in Archaeology, will promote the Archaeological Excavation into an educational means (and offer an innovative educational experience with the assistance of new technologies, such as DB, GIS, laser –scanning, 3d models, digitalization, digital storytelling, augmented and virtual reality, and management of archaeological findings) and will provide theoretical knowledge of documentation standards in implementing Culture Conventions and EU legislation that allow for combatting the illicit trafficking of cultural objects, the protection and promotion of cultural and natural heritage. The main target group of the project will be HE teachers/students of Archaeology at EU level. The course will support a blended learning process through an open platform (online learning) as well as face to face and on-site learning with a transnational mobility of students and their professors of Archaeology. The archaeologists like other cultural professionals need to up skill and be trained in new methods and tools in order to manage, document, preserve and promote the findings during and after the excavation field. In accordance to the European policies, we believe that a further integration and cooperation is needed between the HEIS across Europe, so to improve and the quality and effectiveness of their curricula and methods of excavation as well as the implementation of new technology in the archaeological sector. HEIs that participate in the project will enhance their offer to young archaeologists, as University students, enabling them to cope with a massive introduction of technology in this sector. The project operational objectives will be: • the co-design and co-development (with HEIs) of new (or improved ones) training to fill the gap in the curriculum of initial and continuing training for Archaeology with regards to the management, documentation and preservation of cultural heritage; • The training of HE professors and students in order enable them to make use of the new technology; • The evaluation of the devised online tools/trainings with HE students in order to fine-tune the product and methodology and the delivery capacity of trainers; In DELTA project will be designed and developed a series of elements, meaning that it will include online training through platform and on - site training with practical assignments in the excavation. The course will be structured in a way to offer the appropriate knowledge through lessons, offered already by the Universities that participate in the project, but also there will a practical session of what the students have already learned in class in collaboration with their Professors/educators. During the excavation, there will be offered the opportunity to students to put into practice what has been learned during class and there will be hands – on activities of using and managing the new technological tools. Each partner will be responsible for organizing the selection and sending of their students to the excavation, organizing special trainings in applying the digital methods and tools in the field. The concept is to organize short training sessions in each country with the director of the excavation in charge, supervising his/ her students. The final phase of the training for students of Archaeological Departments includes an intensive study program where a small group of students from each University with their Professor/educator will be able to work together in multinational groups and benefit of the knowledge and skills exchange and thus, gain a different perspective from different Institutions in the project countries, participating from the same sector. Communities of practices will be established in order for students from the project countries to exchange ideas and thoughts. Also, the project will inaugurate a creative dialogue among students and collaborations among Universities.
In DELTA project we addressed the knowledge and skills shortage, by designing, developing and implementing an innovative course which provided all the necessary information about the new technologies, trends and tools in Archaeology and Excavation. The DELTA course entitled “Digital Excavation” was delivered through the MOOC platform (https://mooc.cti.gr/delta.html). The course offered an advanced training for the students of Archaeology as well as Archaeologists and Professionals in Culture Heritage in order to acquire essential knowledge, digital competences and 21st century skills. In this regard, the learners developed knowledge and skills in the following areas: • Knowing and applying digital strategies and tools for archaeological work and excavation. • Planning a fieldwork using available online data sources. • Learning about digital documentation. • Applying digital tools for documenting archaeological data. • Adopting databases and GIS for the analysis and interpretation of archaeological data. • Enabling themselves in visualizing digital data. • Knowing about the virtual technologies applied in the preservation of sites and monuments. • Being familiar with policies and best practices in the context of Cultural Heritage and Public Archaeology. • Community building, participating and interacting with peers in an online environment. The operational objectives of DELTA were multiple: the design and development of an innovative course that would allow the students of Archaeology and their Professors/ tutors to up-skill and upgrade their knowledge on digital tools and technology; the co-design and co-development among HEIs of new or improved training to fill the gap in the curriculum of initial and continuing training for Archaeology related to the management, documentation and preservation of cultural heritage and archaeological findings; the training of HE professors and students in order enable them to make use of the new technology; the European cooperation and strategic partnership in Schools of Archaeology; the raise of importance and awareness towards the digital documentation, preservation and promotion of and archaeological sites/ monuments and excavated objects; the importance of cooperation and collaboration among HEIs at European level, giving the opportunity to Universities to be modernized and technologically developed/ skilled.
The project DELTA - Digital Excavation through Learning and Training in Archaeology was funded under the Erasmus+/ KA2/ Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education programme. The project was coordinated by the DAISSy research group of the Hellenic Open University. The consortium consisted of Universities from three countries (Department of History and Archaeology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Greece, Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Basilicata - Italy and Department of Archaeology and Museology, University of Masaryk - Czech Republic). DELTA project developed an innovative course aimed at students and teachers/trainers/professors of Archaeology, which combined the physical space of an archaeological excavation with the digital space of online learning. Digital Archaeology is considered a new field in archaeology and the involved Universities became more competent in this field, cooperating closely towards this direction, in order to achieve the quality and effectiveness of their curricula and methods of excavation. The aim of applying for DELTA project was to upgrade the digital and soft skills of the students and teachers/trainers of Archaeology in order to better record, document, preserve and interpret the archaeological findings as well to enable them to become familiar with the new methods and the innovative digital tools used to conduct an excavation, nowadays. The participating Universities had the opportunity to upgrade their curriculum and to exchange knowledge and excavation techniques. The DELTA blended course consisted of 4 modules: Module 1. Digital Tools for Archaeological Practice/Excavation developed by Masaryk University; Module 2. Documentation in situ and after excavation developed by National Kapodistrian University of Athens; Module 3. Digital Preservation of cultural heritage monuments and artifacts (3d representation and reconstruction) developed by UNIBAS; Module 4. Open-Air Museums and Experimental Archaeology developed by Hellenic Open University. The DELTA course was delivered via the Moodle-based online platform developed by HOU. The design of the DELTA course has considered: (a) the existing curricula of Archaeology in archaeological departments at EU level, (b) the application of digital tools in archaeological practice and training, (c) the existing digital skills, and (d) the aspirations of students and professionals of Archaeology regarding the use of digital tools in Archaeology. The course comes with a detailed Teaching Handbook, which was developed in English and then partners translated in their national languages, so in DELTA we resulted to 4 Teaching Handbooks (in EN, EL, IT, CZ). The Teaching Handbook included all the valuable information on what the course was about in DELTA (design and development phase), which were the learning outcomes for each unit in modules, the content of Modules and Units as well as the assessment method through the questions designed per Unit (20 questions per Unit). Reference material was included, as well as recommendations for further reading. The partnership agreed that the DELTA project results will be maintained beyond the end of the project and will be made available to all, according to the regulations defined by the Creative Commons License (CC BY 4.0). The UNESCO Culture Conventions and their operational activities demonstrate how culture can help achieve the 2030 Agenda by promoting: human and socio-economic development, as a source of identity, creativity and innovation and quality education, by ensuring that education systems are adapted to local needs drawing on the cultural heritage of communities, building relevant skills needed for employment and thus, eudaimonia. Culture enhances access to education and ensures more locally relevant curricula, textbooks and teaching methods. Quality education should nurture the appreciation of cultural diversity and provide youth with the knowledge and skills for decent jobs and entrepreneurship in creative industry sectors. Cultural heritage is a significant force for 21st century Europe. The year 2018, was officially declared as the Year of Cultural Heritage and this implies that cultural heritage and cultural property/archaeological findings through excavations are important at community level. Consistent to this framework the horizontal priority Open education and innovative practices in the digital era was selected as high relevant with the type of activities that we implemented in DELTA project. Archaeology through excavations aims to the systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, promoting and preserving the cultural heritage. The method of excavating an archaeological site or the methods of preserving and conserving a historical monument or ancient remain can be advanced with the use of new technology. New technological tools can help archaeologists improve their work as they can manage, interpret and document their excavations and archaeological sites/ findings. Understanding and interpreting cultural artifacts and remains of humankind is key precondition of healthy development and stability of every society. Documentation of archaeological and cultural heritage sites is at the heart of the archaeological process and an important component in cultural heritage research and presentation. It is an essential step without which interpretation and analysis are not possible. It is what makes archaeology and cultural heritage “scientific”. The new technological tools and geophysical techniques such as GIS, LIDAR—Light Detection and Ranging systems, Drones, 3D modelling, allow virtually the archaeologists to see through the ground without digging or even document and visualize their excavation and archaeological findings. The digital representation or reproduction of an archaeological dig/ findings, can help the Professors/tutors in their educational role and through their teaching, enabling them in their class lectures as well as in the field. In these terms, the new technology can be implemented in the existing curriculum in the departments of Archaeology so to update and advance the knowledge and the methods of conducting an excavation, in the contemporary era.