Change Agents Projects

1. Change Agents Projects Archaeology Professional IT Skills Archaeology Careers Fair.

2. Professional IT Skills in Archaeology • Concerns raised in two successive SSLC meetings about the lack of practical skills available in modules for undergraduates. • Many students feel practical skills, especially in Archaeology is an asset to their learning process and skill sets. • A lack of awareness about existing IT software (ArcView) available through the university.

3. Background • Project championed by Jemma Singleton (Archaeology Subject Chair) and Sam O’Leary (3rd year, Archaeology SSLC rep). • With the help of our SSLC we compiled a portfolio of various jobs and job descriptions linked with archaeology, requiring the need for certain practical skills. • An emphasis on IT skills and GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

5. Process and Involvement • The original idea: An intensive workshop over a couple of days to give students a grounding in the theory behind GIS and a grip with the GIS software. • Challenges: Relevant software, space in computer labs, student bookings, someone to teach us. • Others involved were: • Alex Ratcliffe • Rachel Wheeler • Oliver Creighton and IoanaOltean • Dr Penny Cunningham

6. The Arrangements and Day Itself • Dates: 29th and 30th of May, after Archaeology exams. • Location: Hatherly Labs. • Times: 10am-4pm. • Numbers: open to 15 students, originally for 3rd years, but to be opened up to 2nd years if numbers could not be filled. • Supervisor : Dr Penny Cunningham. • Bookable Exeter Award event. • On the day 12 out of the 15 students attended. Most of them 3rd years. • Penny had arranged a series of tasks that we could work through individually, in groups or as a whole “class”. • We were also given a demonstration on the benefits of the "Illustrator” programme.

9. The Outcome • Tricky at first dealing with an entirely new system of technology. • BUT: we quickly realised how vital this knowledge/skill is in producing high quality publications, assessing landscape relations in both a modern and archaeological context. • Many students commented how if they had this knowledge earlier they could have produced quality illustrations within their dissertations. • It is a highly employable skill to have.

10. Recommendations. • Rachel Wheeler conducted a questionnaire assessing our knowledge before and after the sessions, our enjoyment of the workshop and if we found it helpful. • I have not had the results of this back yet, but from word of mouth the results are very positive, and many people wish they had access to this software and knowledge sooner. • It would be fantastic is the SSLC continued to run this workshop next year. Ultimately the ideal situation would for it to be incorporated intoa couple of seminar exercises within a module. • Increase awareness of the software ArcView available in specific university computer labs, and also available for purchase, a cost of £10 throughout the duration of your degree. • Increase awareness of GIS modules available as optional modules in other departments such as Geography.

11. Part 2 The Archaeology Careers Fair.

12. Background • In its 3rd year • Stems from student concern that not enough employability events were run/organised advertising/encouraging employability within archaeology.

13. Process and the Day Itself • Organised and run by Jemma Singleton and Sam O’Leary. • This event was a year in the making of contacting employers, organising guest speakers, scheduling, organising catering, transport, permits, advertising... Etc. • Others involved were: • Rachel Wheeler- budget, advertising • Claire Panzeri- Alumni financial support and logistics • Jo Hatt- Sorting out food, permits.

14. Date: Friday 1st of June 2012 • Location. Laver Building, rooms 218/212 and LT3 • Time: 11am-4pm • A mixture of Guest speakers and Display stands • Bookable event through the Exeter Award

15. Careers Fair Schedule • Employability Presentations: Location LT3. • 11.30-12.00. Amanda Forster - Institute For Archaeologists (IFA) • 12.00-12.30. Stephany Leach - Forensic Archaeology • 12.30-1.00. Gillian Hovell- Community Archaeologist and Award Winning Writer • 1.00-1.30. James Parry - National Trust. • 1.30-2.00. – LUNCH • 2.00-2.30- Sophie Thorogood- Wessex Commercial Archaeology Unit • 2.30-3.00. Jenny Durrant- RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum). • 3.00-3.30. Tom Elliot - Commercial Archaeologist • 3.30-4.00. Stephen Reed - Historic Environment Record • These presentations will be accompanied by display stands and room for individual questions from the above speakers and other guests listed below. • Display Stands. Location: Rooms 218 & 212. • Danielle Wootton- Portable Antiquities Scheme • Kerry Dean - AC Archaeology, Commerical Unit • Barry Chandler – Torquay Museum • Mick Aston - Presenter and Academic.

16. The Outcome • For an Archaeology event, very busy. Presentations were busy with a steady stream of people throughout the day. • An eclectic range of employers. • All employers attended and seemed content. • Good feedback from students who founded it genuinely worthwhile. • This event will hopefully be continued and improved by next year’s SSLC.

17. Personally. • It’s a great thing to have taken on a huge amount of responsibility and to see it all come together after so much hard work, flattery and persuasion. • Sam and I had a very archaeologically orientated week, and after it.......