Research group invites Madison County students to join local archaeology field projects

Dr. Willett Boyer, an associate scholar with the Aucilla Research Institute (ARI), told the Madison County School Board on March 17 that ARI is conducting fieldwork in the southwestern part of Madison County near the Aucilla River and invited Madison County teachers and students to participate.

"As an educator myself, I've always believed that the best way for students to learn is hands on," Dr. Boyer told the board, describing ARI's lesson plans and mobile displays that have been used with elementary through high school students. He said ARI can tailor classroom materials to state standards and run visits, field trips and recurring field-class experiences for schools.

Boyer said ARI's active field program had been associated with a jump in Jefferson County students' scores on the U.S. History end-of-course exam, from 29% to about 68% after students participated in the hands-on program. "We have our scores up to, at this point, 68% on The US History ... Exam," he said.

Boyer asked the board and superintendent to facilitate connections between ARI and Madison County teachers who might want to bring students to the dig site or schedule classroom visits. Board members asked clarifying questions about grade levels (Boyer said the program can be adapted from third grade through high school) and said they appreciated the outreach materials and mobile displays the group can bring.

The board did not take action on the request but instructed staff to note the offer and said the superintendent would be available to coordinate with interested schools and teachers.