1. DURHAM UNIVERSITY LEARNING & TEACHING CONFERENCE
Teaching Human Evolution
in the Digital Age
Dr Trudi Buck & Dr Andy Shuttleworth
Department of Anthropology

2. Studying Human Evolution
‘Sea Change’ in Palaeoanthropology research
Homo naledi
Live streaming of excavations
Updates on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Published in open access journal
Freely available 3D printing of fossils
Students increasingly requesting slides in advance
Integrating visuals and text increases engagement with message context
Visual content is an important factor for persuasive message processing 2

3. Studying Human Evolution

4. Studying Human Evolution
Human origins of interest to all
BUT
Palaeoanthropology can be dry & unfamiliar
Mix of academic experience
Compulsory Level 1 module
Not taught at Secondary School
Students increasingly requesting slides in advance
Integrating visuals and text increases engagement with message context
Visual content is an important factor for persuasive message processing 4

5. A Digital World

6. Digital Human Evolution
Subject-specific Skills (Learning Outcomes)
“Locate relevant material, both electronic and other…”
EVA Level 2 Human Evolution module
39% students cited an online resource
E.g. John Hawkes blog, The History Files website, etc.
Tweets between student/researcher
Makes research more accessible 6

7. Communicating Human Evolution

8. Communicating Human Evolution
$$$!!!
@HEaD_DurhamAnth

9. Interactive Lectures: ResponseWare
Level 1 Human Evolution and Diversity lectures
190 students
Pilot scheme – interactive lectures
ResponseWare App 9

10. Responses to ResponseWare
DUO & s
90+ responses to each question
Immediate requests for more use
Module Evaluation Questionnaire
Lectures: 94% rated Very Good
Free text answers 10

11. Interactive Lectures Download the ResponseWare app:
From Apple Store (iPhone/iPad)
Play Store (Android)
Via a web address

12. Interactive Example Open Responseware App
Ensure that you connect to the North/South America server
From the App click on the top left icon
Opens the setup panel
Select the “Settings” option
Under Region choose North/South America
If you have made an error:-
Click on settings option within the app & change
the server

13. Interactive Revision
When the session is set up you will be given a Session ID
Input into the app
In order to answer questions
If prompted to enter user details:
Check your Server setting is definitely North/South America

14. I have opened ResponseWare App?
True
False

15. Which species of hominin is this?
Sahalanthropus tchadensis
Australopithecus robustus
Kenyanthropus platyops
Homo neanderthalensis

16. Which species of hominin is this?
Homo naledi
Australopithecus robustus
Homo habilis
Australopithecus afarensis

17. Where in the body would you find the humerus?
In the leg
In the chest
In the arm
On the cranium

18. What species are we? Homo erectus Homo sapiens Homo antecessor
Homo neanderthalensis

19. Clark Kent : Superman Bruce Wayne :
Hulk
Spiderman
Wolverine
Batman