Theme:
3. The new normality of heritage management and museums in post-Covid times
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Creativity and Resourcefulness Online: How Archaeologists and Heritage Educators Overcame the Pandemic and Reached the Public in New Ways
Content:
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning and outreach efforts were on the rise. The pandemic highlighted the importance of virtual tools for providing information and resources and for allowing people to stay connected with each other. Transitioning to an exclusively online world was particularly hard for archaeological outreach and education activities that rely heavily on in-person programs.
Responses to the pandemic were varied. The rapidness of the onset of pandemic-related lockdowns and quarantines, in many cases, did not allow for a careful and methodical transition. Many organizations tried to adapt their programs for a virtual world. Over time, the approach to online education and outreach changed. As people became more familiar with online tools and their potential, they adopted creative approaches to engaging and educating their audiences. They also realized that the virtual world was accessible to a larger audience. As a result, we were made aware of programs that utilized online and virtual resources to engage new publics, transmit knowledge, create accessible online courses, organize international events, and even increase the number of visitors or members at museums and cultural associations.
In this session, we plan to discuss several new and different approaches adopted, created, and implemented by individuals and organizations to communicate with the public during the pandemic. We want to hear about specific programs, how they worked, evaluate success (or failure), and discuss the future of online programming. While we believe that in-person programs will once again be offered in the future, it is clear that online programming is here to stay and who organize outreach programs and activities will consider hybrid approaches addressing the needs of in-person and online audiences. We invite anyone who planned, organized, and implemented online and virtual programming during the pandemic to share your thoughts and insights with us.
Keywords:
Online learning, Virtual programs, Education, Outreach, Engaging public, Archaeological heritage
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Sofia Fonseca (Ireland) 1,2,3
Co-organisers:
Ben Thomas (United States) 4
Affiliations:
1. Teiduma, Consultancy on Heritage and Culture
2. German Archaeological Institute
3. ICArEHB- UAlg
4. Archaeological Institute of America
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