Wednesday, October 5, 2011

High School Archeology / Geography / Biblical History

(click on course title for registration page)

Class dates: Thursdays, January 19 to March 22, 2012 (No class February 23)
Total classes: 10
Starting time: 4:30 pm Eastern Time (3:30 Central)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 3/4 semester. Add reading / writing assignment for full semester.
Fee: $120 if you enroll on or before November 1, 2011. $145 after Nov. 1st for all 10 classes.
Course description: This class will use chronology of biblical history to acquaint students with some of the most important archaeological sites of the Holy Land. The content of this class will be based on four interrelated components:[1] Geography: Instruction on the geography of the Holy Land and the greater Middle East [2] Archaeology: An introduction to the principles of basic archaeological methodology in theory and practice [3] Apologetics: Demonstrations of how archaeological research has generally confirmed the biblical narratives [4] History: Using the schema of salvation history as a pattern through which to learn about geography and archaeology.
Course outline:
Week 1: Foundations: Capabilities and limits of archaeological research with regards to the data given to is in the Scriptures; archaeological methodology.
Week 2: Genesis 1-11: Archaeology and the oldest biblical narratives, including traditional "Eden" sites, the Tower of Babel and the ever elusive search for Noah's Ark.
Week 3: The World of the Patriarchs:
Week 4: The Historical Exodus: The sites associated with the Exodus and wandering in the wilderness, as well as questions regarding whether archaeology "proves" the Exodus account.
Week 5: The Conquest: Examining the Israelite conquest of Joshua, a visit to ancient Jericho and some of the sites from the Book of Judges.
Week 6: David, Solomon and the Kings: Old Jerusalem, the sites of the books of Samuel and Kings, including the Valley of Elah (where David killed Goliath), Mt. Carmel, En Gedi, Ezion Geber (where Solomon built a fleet).
Week 7: Where is the Ark of the Covenant?: The most enduring archaeological mystery of the Bible examined in light of four modern theories of the Ark's whereabouts.
Week 8: Intertestamental Archaeological Sites: Archaeological sites surrounding the migration of the Jews to Egypt in the 4th century BC, Alexander's conquest of Israel, the period of the Maccabees and the Herodian Dynasty.
Week 9: Life of Christ: The locations associated with the events of our Lord's life and passion.
Week 10: The Book of Acts: The first Christian communities established by St. Paul, the seven churches of Asia and Minor and many other places mentioned in the New Testament, including the oldest churches in Rome, established by St. Peter himself.
Course materials: FREE online sources will be provided as needed by the instructor. No textbook required.
Homework: Homework will consist of a tutor-guided, semester-long research project/paper with different components due at various intervals throughout the semester.

Instructor biography: Phillip Campbell holds a BA in European History from Ave Maria University and recently completed a certificate program in Secondary Education through Madonna University. He has a background as a Youth Director and RCIA instructor. He teaches history and Scripture for the St. Augustine Homeschool Enrichment Program. Mr. Campbell is the author of the popular fantasy-epic Tale of Manaeth. His writings have also appeared in such publications as St. Austin Review and The Distributist Review. Mr. Campbell and his wife of eight years homeschool their four children.

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Mr. Campbell will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

(click on course title for registration page)

3 comments:

  1. Is there a list of optional reading that we can start gathering to make this a full semester class?

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  2. Great question Jenn. I forwarded it to Mr. Campbell and will let you know as soon as I hear back from him. ~Maureen

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  3. Hi Jenn! This is Phillip Campbell, the Course Instructor.

    I don't know of any good books on this subject - that is part of the reason why I decided to put a class together on my own. Steve Ray's "Footprints of God" DVDs would compliment it nicely, but that's a set of movies, not a book.

    I am sorry I could not be of more help!

    -Phillip

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