06 - Digital Media and Online Resources in Ancient Mediterranean Teaching: Current Practices and Future Opportunities

Presenters

Chelsea A.M. Gardner, Acadia University; and Christine L. Johnston, Western Washington University

Abstract

This poster presents the results of a 2021–2022 survey examining current uses of digital media and resources in teaching about the histories and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, West Asia, and North Africa. For this study, digital media was defined as mass-communication products in different digital formats (videos, podcasts, blogs, etc.), while digital resources included data repositories (archives, databases, online collections, etc.), as well as interactive digital tools. The survey was circulated among teaching professionals in schools, museums, and other educational environments, and comprised quantitative and qualitative questions about current pedagogical practices in fields related to ancient Mediterranean studies, including archaeology, history, and classics. Survey questions addressed subjects and topics taught, current tools and resources incorporated in respondent curricula, and the perceived strengths and weaknesses of various digital media and resources.

This poster will present the survey results, including discussion of the primary pedagogical benefits and challenges highlighted by respondents. The opportunities and considerations for multimedia use identified in the survey will be supported by theoretical frameworks within the learning sciences in order to outline best practices for digital media and resource use according to student-centered instructional design. The results of this survey demonstrate that the incorporation of multimedia resources in teaching can facilitate a shift from objectivist learning and traditional textbooks toward constructivist and critical pedagogical practices that empower students to think critically about both the past and the world around them.