Frequently Asked Questions About the CD

SITE GUIDE
•	Introduction
•	Mississippi Valley Prehistory
•	Historic Native Americans
•	European Explorers
•	Project History & Background
•	Frequently Asked Questions
•	ORDER the CD!

Who should use this software?

This software can be used by anyone interested in the history of Native American and European encounters in eastern North America. The learning exercises have been designed, however, for classroom use.

Is the software targeted at particular grade levels?

The learning exercises are presented in three levels of difficulty: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. In general, these levels correspond respectively to junior high/middle school, high school, and university levels, although the choice of where to begin and how far to proceed is entirely up to the user.

Upon what basis are the learning exercises ranked in terms of their difficulty level?

The ranking is based on Bloom's taxonomy of learning objectives. Beginner activities emphasize basic knowledge and comprehension skills. Intermediate activities emphasize application and analysis skills. Advanced activities stress synthesis and evaluation skills.

How are the language tracks organized?

Each language track consists of several topical modules. Each module contains 2-4 lesson units. The lesson units contain learning exercises plus additional presentations and tutorials. Objectives are listed for each unit. A glossary, contents menu, and help feature are accessible from every screen.

How are the learning exercises structured?

The Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced learning exercises in each unit are arranged in an "interactive spiral," in which users completing one level are prompted to continue up the spiral to the next higher level.

Tell me more about this "interactive spiral."

Each learning activity begins with a challenge to attract user interest, followed by an activity designed to provide a resolution to the challenge. Each resolution is then presented as another challenge to address a more complex or subtle issue, thereby pulling the user up to the next level of complexity.

What kind of learning strategy does the software support?

This software supports an open-ended, "active learning" strategy in which the user decides the order of topics to explore. Since user performance records are not stored, the learning environment is nonthreatening and the user can progress via correct as well as incorrect responses to questions and other exercises.

Does use of this software produce anything that can be subject to evaluation and grading?

Yes. Many of the learning exercises as well as the recommended "additional activities" produce written work that can be evaluated and graded according to criteria established by a teacher.

What subjects is this software suitable for?

The English language track has been developed for use in social science and humanities classes, including anthropology, geography, history, literature, and social studies. The French and Spanish language tracks are designed for use in foreign language classes. With the cross-disciplinary nature of the subject matter, the software is well-suited for "teaching across the curriculum" applications.

Of what general relevance is this software to current events?

The general topic addressed is: How do different groups of people, speaking different languages and possessing different views of the world, work to accommodate each other yet maintain their cultural distinctiveness within a single geographical region? We suggest that this topic has much relevance to current world events.

Will this software help us meet any mandated curriculum requirements?

Yes, it will. The presentations, tutorials, and learning exercises contained in the software were designed to satisfy a large number of K-12 social studies curriculum requirements, and to serve as a useful learning tool for college-level social science, humanities, and foreign language classes.

How difficult is it to use this software?

The software is pretty easy to use — all you need to do is familiarize yourself with the screen layout. The navigation and feature access buttons are clearly labeled, and on-screen instructions are provided for any other operations you need to perform. A "help" button to remind you about screen layout features is always accessible.

The software runs entirely from the CD-ROM — no installation is required. Some components of the French-language section, however, require the Apple Quicktime™ player. The Quicktime installer is provided on the CD.

How should I begin to use this software, and how should I proceed?

We recommend that you start with the Two Worlds and First Encounters modules (or the counterpart modules in the French and Spanish tracks). From there, you can complete the remaining modules in the order of your choice. If you are new to the subjects of European exploration in the Americas and Native American cultural history, you may wish to begin with the material provided in the Preliminaries module of the English language track.

Do I need to complete all three activity levels?

Just complete the ones you wish. We recommend that everyone start with the Beginner lessons. Junior high/middle school students may then wish to try some of the Intermediate exercises, and high school students similarly may wish to try some of the Advanced activities. College students should attempt to complete all three sets of lessons.

Where can I get more information about this software?

You may find additional information of interest on the Arkansas Archeological Survey Web page, or call us at 501-575-3556.

How can I get a copy of the CD-ROM?

You can order a free copy via this Web site.