Anna Louise Pearman (B.S., M.A.I.S)
This project addresses the issues of integrating state of the art technologies into teaching and learning Ancient Egyptian and Nubian art history at the college undergraduate level. Multimedia and hypermedia computer systems are currently available that combine text, graphics, animation, audio, video, and hypertext in a single delivery system. With the addition of computer mediated communications (CMC), i.e., a modem, software to enable group interaction, and networks the computer is transformed from an isolated workstation into a dynamic shared space on the virtual university campus. At the core of this cyber environment is the learner who builds and shares ideas, information and skills with other precipitants mastering the subject's rich content. Here teachers draw on newly accessible resources while learners engage in active learning and high level thinking.
The entire course will reside on a file server, and with password protected access will be available from any personal computer (PC) or Macintosh equipped with a Web browser. Once the learner has logged on, navigation would proceed by pointing to and clicking on icons, hypertext, and graphical images with the mouse pointing device. Hyperlinks would be both internal and external, i.e., some links would be course specific while other would connect to pages/sites on the broader World Wide Web (WWW). Museum collections, virtual reality (VR) tours, up to the minute news briefs, live video conferencing with world renown experts, chat rooms, and up to date research by art historians and archaeologists will replace or supplement the traditional didactic approach to teaching Ancient Egyptian and Nubian art history.
Early mastery of the computerized aspects of this course is essential, but should require a small investment in time at the beginning. The learner remains the focal point with the computer functioning as the primary tool and the medium to the virtual art history environment.
KEY WORDS computer mediated, distance learning, distributed learning, Egypt, Nubia, technology