Introduction 

The Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute was a one-week invitational summer institute for middle-school (sixth, seventh and eighth grade) teachers and students from the Navajo Nation held June 21-26, 1998 at Diné College, in Tsaile, Arizona. During the week participants learned how to use information technology to document and record their cultural heritage. They learned how to use the Internet to share this heritage with each other and also how to find relevant information and resources on the World Wide Web. By the end of the institute, each group of participants from a school created a curriculum module (project) using the information and skills they learned during the institute. 

The Program 

During the institute, participants received instruction on Internet basics (browsing, searching and evaluation of websites), how to make basic web pages using an HTML editor, Photoshop basics, and how to use a digital camera. The participants were given guides tours of the Ned. A. Hatathli Museum with its excellent Navajo collections and used the Museum exhibits as reference for some of the projects. In addition, throughout the week the participants were able to experience and learn about Diné cultural heritage. This was done through demonstrations and lectures by Diné artisans (woodcarving, pottery, basketry, silverSmithing). A guided tour of Canyon de Chelly gave the participants a chance learn about the historical and cultural significances of the canyon and experience its natural beauty. A local astronomer set up a telescope for the participants to see a one-of-a kind astronomical event and explained the stars and constallations. During the final two days of the institute, the participants designed and created a web-based project to take back to their school for using during the school year. This project will be the basis for on-going education and curriculum development of cultural heritage education. 

The participants of the institute have been encouraged to continue their conversations using Internet Webboard technology during the school year. Each school will also receive a videotape documentary of the institute.  

Instructors 

Instructors during the Institute were Graduate students from the University of Michigan, School of Information, School of Education and the director and curator of the Ned A. Hatathli Musuem at Diné College. In particular Mr. Harry Walters and Mr. Edsel Brown from the Museum lead educational tours through the Museum and the guided tour of Canyon de Chelly. In addition, Mr. Brown demonstrated pottery making and engaged a workshop of pottery making for the Institute participants. Three local artisans arranged through the museum demonstrated their crafts (silverSmithing, basketry, woodcarving) to the Institute participants. Five graduate students from the School of Information (SI) and the School of Education worked with participants on the use of the digital cameras, HTML editing and project design. The SI students are earning their Master of Science in Information degrees and have worked on other cultural heritage capture and education projects in Michigan and with Yup'ik communities in Alaska. Working together the Institute instructors provided a multi-faceted and rich educational experience for the participants.  

The Logistics 

Teachers from the Navajo Nation were invited to apply to the Institute. Eight teachers were selected from six schools and each teacher was asked to select three students to attend the institute with them. Six teachers from five schools participated in the week-long Institute. The institute enrollment was initially limited to ten teachers and 30 accompanying students. 

Criteria for selection included: 

• The middle school must be already networked with classroom Internet access and the ability to use the World Wide Web during classroom instruction. A detailed listing of the equipment that you have available for classroom use at your school was required. 
• The applicant must submit a letter of support from the school's principal. 
• Each teacher was required to write a statement about how they intend to continue the cultural heritage and education effort during the 1998-1999 school year. 

Participants were lodged in the Diné College dormitories. Lodging at the College was not mandatory, but provided for those who wished to stay overnight. Meals were eaten at the College cafeteria. The cost of the lodging and meals was paid for out of the Institute grant funds. 

For attending and fully participating in the Institute, each teacher received a stipend, a Kodak digital camera, and PageMill HTML authoring software for continued use on their cultural heritage projects. 
 

About the Institute

Information Technology Instructional Materials

Participants 

Educational Modules 

Report and Evaluation

Picture Album