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Teaching through Technology: The Virtual Curation Laboratory as a Campus Center for Experiential Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

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Abstract

The Virtual Curation Laboratory (VCL) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was established in August 2011, over a decade ago, through funding from the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Legacy Resource Management Program to test the efficacy of the NextEngine Desktop 3-D scanner for documenting archaeological remains. At its inception, the Virtual Curation Laboratory was designed as a campus center for experiential learning. All aspects of the DOD Legacy Project were undertaken by undergraduate VCU students hired to work on the project. In a robust internship program, VCU students tested and developed protocols still used today. The VCL has partnered and continues to partner with natural- and cultural-heritage organizations across the U.S. and one museum in north India to digitally preserve and share the past with a global audience.

Resumen

El Laboratorio de Curaduría Virtual (Virtual Curation Laboratory o VCL) de la Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) fue establecido en agosto de 2011, hace más de una década, gracias a la financiación del Programa de gestión de recursos legados del Departamento de Defensa (DOD) para probar la eficacia del escáner 3D de escritorio NextEngine para documentar restos arqueológicos. En sus inicios, el Laboratorio de Curaduría Virtual fue diseñado como un centro universitario para el aprendizaje experiencial. Todos los aspectos del Proyecto de legados del DOD fueron realizados por estudiantes universitarios de VCU contratados para trabajar en el proyecto. En un sólido programa de pasantías, los estudiantes de VCU probaron y desarrollaron protocolos que todavía se usan en la actualidad. El VCL se asoció y continúa asociándose con organizaciones de patrimonio natural y cultural en los EE. UU. y un museo en el norte de la India para preservar digitalmente y compartir el pasado con una audiencia global.

Résumé

Le Virtual Curation Laboratory (VCL) à la Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) a été établi il y a plus d'une décennie, en août 2011, grâce au financement du Programme de gestion des ressources antérieures (Legacy Resource Management Program) du Département de la Défense (DOD) afin de tester l'efficacité du scanner NextEngine Desktop 3D pour la documentation des vestiges archéologiques. À l'origine, le Virtual Curation Laboratory était conçu comme un centre sur le campus dédié à l'apprentissage par l'expérience. Tous les aspects du Legacy Project du DOD ont été mis en œuvre par des étudiants de premier cycle de la VCU, recrutés pour travailler sur le projet. Dans le cadre d'un solide programme de stage, les étudiants de la VCU ont testé et développé des protocoles qui sont encore utilisés aujourd'hui. Le VCL a créé des partenariats et continue de travailler de concert avec des organisations dédiées au patrimoine naturel et culturel à travers les États-Unis ainsi qu'un musée en Inde du Nord pour la préservation et le partage numériques du passé avec une audience mondiale.

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Data Availability

Many of the 3-D models created through 3-D scanning are publicly viewable online where permission has been provided by the institutions or individuals who have made materials available for 3-D scanning. They can be found at: https://sketchfab.com/virtualcurationlab/models.

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  1. School of World Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, 312 North Shafer Street, Richmond, VA, 23284, U.S.A.

    Bernard K. Means

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Means, B.K. Teaching through Technology: The Virtual Curation Laboratory as a Campus Center for Experiential Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. Hist Arch 57, 842–856 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-023-00434-y

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