Continuing Heritage Education: Reaching Adult and Senior Learners

Continuing education and adult enrichment courses offer readily accessible opportunities for archaeologists to engage a non-traditional learning group who are often already curious about archaeology and are relatively informed. Adult and senior students in these settings prefer discussions and debates to strictly information transmission; such an environment is conducive for presenting issues of cultural heritage and preservation. In 2015, these topics were introduced to two such audiences through different courses in the Twin Cities metro. This paper will examine qualitative and quantitative data gathered by the instructor through brief questionnaires given to participants before and after each course. The results will demonstrate what informed adult learners already know about heritage stewardship and what they take away from such courses, what they see are critical issues for preserving the past, and their suggestions for raising awareness of cultural stewardship more broadly. Such information will offer professionals insights for improving stewardship education and creating advocates of the general public.