York archaeologist commended in Times Higher Education awards

Posted on 3 December 2020

Dr Aimée Little, from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, has been highly commended in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) 2020 awards in the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year category.

Dr Aimée Little

Dr Little was shortlisted for her work in developing learning programmes that enable students to bridge theory and practice through experiential and experimental learning.

In 2015, she founded the YEAR Centre, an outdoor experimental archaeology teaching and research space at the University of York.

At what looks to be an ancient campsite, students can experience first-hand what it would have been like to craft objects in the past using traditional techniques. Students are also taught how to design and implement experiments, and how to use a range of scientific methods to document them.

This informal outdoor learning environment has proven to break down social barriers and increased student engagement through group work and hands-on experience.

Aimée said of the announcement, “I am absolutely delighted to have been highly commended. It is a great honour and wonderful recognition of the importance of hands-on, practical outdoor learning at the YEAR Centre.”