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Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) WarmUp Activity: Marine Archaeology and Technology

Laura Guertin, Penn State University Delaware County
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Question:

1) How has technology helped marine archaeological investigations? How has it hurt?

2) What are some of the "costs" involved with using technology for marine archaeology? Are the "costs" worth it?

3) Tell me about Bob Ballard's 1999 Ashkelon expedition. What did they find, and how? Is there any significance to this marine archaeological site? Explain.

Student Responses:

See the Just-in-Time Teaching page on assessment for information and ideas on how to evaluate student responses.

Students may need clarification on some basic terminology, such as amphora and side-scan sonar. Students will ask how the marine archaeological sites are found in the first place and how much a marine expedition costs. Students will engage in a lively discussion of removing artifacts from sites such as the Titanic (some say to leave it alone, some say it is a piece of history we can learn more about above water than left down below). Instructors should prepare for students questions on the risk to the artifacts and human lives in doing this type of research and if the costs outweigh the benefits.

References and Notes:

Articles that students may be assigned to read for this set of questions include (but are not limited to):

Ballard Team Has High Hopes for Deep-Water Robot, National Geographic News, July 2003.

Technology Opens Deep Seas to Exploration, National Geographic News, June 2004.

Retrieval of Titanic Artifacts Stirs Controversy, National Geographic News, April 2002.

The use of Just-in-Time Teaching is discussed in detail on the JiTT Starting Point page.

Additional information on JiTT is available in the book:

  • Just-in-Time Teaching: Blending Active Learning with Web Technology. Novak et al., 1999 The authors explain what Just-in-Time Teaching is, its underlying goals and philosophies, and how to implement it. They also provide an extensive section of tested resource materials that can be used in introductory physics courses with the JiTT approach. (citation and description)