ANT 151/N - World Archaeology
Online Course - Spring 2008
Dear Online Student:
Welcome to World Archaeology! (ANT 151)!
Archaeology appeals to many people for many reasons, and I hope
that after this course you are even more interested in the field
than you are now. I also hope that you enjoy the work you're about
to undertake in this introductory, college-level course.
This course will be reading and writing intensive, and like other
online courses, it is also something of an independent study,
in that what you learn in this class is more directly tied to
the effort you put into it. There's not hours of easy listening
to lectures each week, and you'll need to make up that loss through
reading.
Online courses require more self-motivation and discipline
than traditional college classes, and in my opinion, they are
harder than their on-campus version. On the other hand, you've
chosen this class for a reason, and that might include the flexibility
and opportunities that online courses can provide.
I'm excited you want to learn about world archaeology, but I
also want to make sure you're coming into this class with the
right attitude: willing to work and with the stamina to complete
it. Stonehenge, the pyramids at Giza, the ancient cities of southern
Iraq are all worth studying. The modern world can learn things
from the Inca and Aztecs, the ancient Chinese and the Indus Valley.
I would hope that by the end of the semester you'll agree, and
that this course becomes a valued part of your college education.
The course itself will consist of weekly readings, written exercises,
web exercises, and online bulletin board discussions. In the spirit
of online courses, there will only be one required meeting - for
our final exam (and you'll need to come with photo ID). The other
exams will be online through the WebCT program, and there will
also be a short research paper. Full details can be found in the
syllabus and the orientation to the course in the WebCT shell
for ANT 151-N1.
As with all online courses, you will need access
to a computer, an Internet connection and browser, and some basic
computer skills. Beyond the orientation and syllabus to the course
itself, there are many sources of help for the WebCT program available
here at SCC (including the technical support numbers listed below).
WebCT courses will not be available to students until 5 working
days prior to the start of the semester.
Instructor: William Griffin, Assoc. Prof. of Anthropology &
Archaeology, SCC
Office: SSB 1104 C, 636-922-8465
E-mail for this class will be handled through the WebCT program.
Other contact information is the Social Science Department at
636-992-8398, the Distance Learning Office at 636-922-8470, and
David Willmore, WebCT Administrator at 636-922-8514.
Course Meetings: There is only one required
meeting for this class, the final exam. You have a choice of either
meeting time, but you must be able to make one of these (and only
one), and you must bring a photo ID to the exam itself.
Monday, May 12 - SSB 2401 - 5 p.m. - Final Exam, or
Tuesday, May 13 - SSB 2401- 7 p.m. - Final Exam
Course Text and Video:
We will be using World Prehistory: A Brief Introduction, by Brian
Fagan (7th ed.); along with a reader - Annual Editions: Archaeology,
8th edition. In addition to these two, there will also be extensive
readings online (both my own unit write-ups and various web sites
you'll be sent to). The two books can be bought new or used, on
campus or on-line, but by the end of the first week of class you
will need the books.
Other information: If you have any questions
please don't hesitate to call. A great resource for all campus
services is the web site at www.stchas.edu . Here you will find
bookstore hours, library hours, online library catalog, student
activities and athletics, ACE computer center hours, and much,
much more.
Again, Welcome. I'm looking forward to this class and for the
chance to get to know you a bit through your writings.
Sincerely,
William Griffin
