Off-Campus Teaching in Public Archaeology: The Archaeology Festival and a Visit to the Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology

During the visit, students were first guided through the museum’s permanent and special exhibition spaces, where they observed the presentation of Shihsanhang culture, including curatorial narratives, spatial design, and interactive installations. This enabled them to understand how museums use exhibition design and experiential elements to help visitors engage with and imagine prehistoric life. Students then joined the outdoor Archaeology Festival, where they participated in activities such as pottery sherd puzzles, rubbing, stone tool polishing, and archaeology-related quizzes, while also observing patterns of interaction among family visitors and the public. Through these activities, students not only became more familiar with diverse approaches to the communication of archaeological knowledge, but also reflected on how specialized knowledge can be translated into educational content that is accessible and engaging for broader audiences. After the visit, teachers and students shared feedback and discussed issues such as booth design, thematic coordination, and the diversity of activity formats. Overall, the event strengthened students’ understanding of the museum’s role in public education and provided valuable inspiration for connecting course learning with their final projects.