Projects DIGS (Developing Individual Growth in Science) is designed to enhance the interest of 30 high ability/high potential secondary school students in science disciplines as possible career choices. This project targets 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students from a 7 county area surrounding Wright State University. Students interest in science careers will be developed through an intensive 3-week summer institute, followed by 9 months of academic year continuation activities. The workshop will place students in an experimental research environment, using archaeology as an entry mode for rich interdisciplinary learning. Students will have a hands-on experience in the process of scientific inquiry through participation in a simulated archaeological dig and through observation of, and interaction with, practicing local archaeologists and paleontologists currently conducting a dip. Topics in related sciences will be introduced as a natural outflow from concepts and phenomena encountered by the students during their research (e.g., earth science and chemistry applications in the archaeological field). Career information will be integrated with content knowledge throughout the curriculum. Multimodal teaching/learning activities and strategies will be used, with most classroom activities being structured as small group cooperative projects.
