The DELTA project aims at designing and developing an innovative, open, blended course in order to train students in digital competences and the use of new technologies in Archaeology.
Before designing the DELTA course, the consortium carried out an extensive Desk and Field Research with the following aims:

1. to record the existing situation mainly in the three participating countries concerning:
   (a) higher education courses on excavation methods and techniques
   (b) the use of digital applications in archaeological excavations
   (c) the use of digital educational tools in courses about excavation practice
2. to explore, assess and understand the expectations and desires of students and professionals of archaeology concerning the use of digital tools and applications in Archaeological excavations and Courses on excavation practices, methods and techniques.

The first Intellectual Output “Digital Excavation blended Course” concerns the design of the DELTA course after taking into consideration (a) the skills needed for new archaeologists and (b) the syllabus of training courses already available at Archaeological departments.

In this report (short, long) you will find out the current trends as well as needs of archaeologists in Greece, Italy and Czech Republic!

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University organized the Kick off Meeting of the 30 months project DELTA (Digital Excavation through Learning and Training in Archaeology). DELTA is funded in the context of Erasmus+/KA2 EU programme (Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education), and its official launch took place in Patras, Greece on November 8^th and 9^th of 2019.

DELTA is an EU transnational initiative that brings together 4 partners/ Universities of three countries (Greece, Italy and Czech Republic). The partnership consists of 3 Universities that have a specialization in Archaeology and excavation techniques [NKUA, MUNI, UNIBAS], while the coordinator [HOU] has a long experience in e-learning courses and in developing online platforms.

The project, which is coordinated by DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University, aims to design and develop a course that combines the physical space of an archaeological excavation with the digital space of online learning. With this course, students of Archaeology will be able to improve update their knowledge and skills and develop digital and 21st century skills in particular.

In the two day meeting, partners presented their University, shared their opinions, expertise and advice based on their roles and project tasks of the forthcoming project activities. During the second day of the meeting in Patras, the participants had the opportunity to visit the New Archaeological Museum in Patras and guided by Archaeologist of Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia (EFAACHA) in a scheduled tour, to the exhibitions and archaeological collections and findings derived from excavations in Achaia.

The project meeting closed with decisions on the next actions on Intellectual Outputs I and II.

The DELTA (Digital Excavation through Learning and Training in Archaeology) project is a transnational programme funded under Erasmus+ EU program (Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education) and is coordinated by the DAISSy research group of Hellenic Open University (daissy.eap.gr), bringing together 4 partners from 3 European countries (Greece, Italy and Czech Republic). The project started in October 2019 and has a duration of 30 months.

DELTA aims at the design and development of an open course through which students of Archaeology will be able to update their skills and develop new digital and 21^st century skills. The project is innovative since it integrates the excavation site as an instructional tool in the classroom-based instruction of Archaeologists using digital means.

The course will support a blended learning process through an open, online-learning platform as well as face to face and on-site learning with a transnational mobility of students and their professors of Archaeology.

After the blended learning, selected students from each partner University with their Professor/educator will be able to be trained and work together in multinational groups and benefit from the knowledge and skills exchange in a joint excavation (Intensive Study Programme-ISP), in the historical place of Marathon, Greece.

DELTA will result in the design and development of a Teaching Handbook in four languages as well as the creation of Policy and good practices towards the application of new methods and modernization of excavation practice using the news technologies.

For more information, you can visit the website: project-delta.eu