Authentic learning in field schools: preparing future members of the archaeological community

The field school is one of the most common forums in which individuals obtain practical training and experience in archaeology. Given the emphasis placed on such programs, questions arise regarding their objectives, the pedagogies employed and their effectiveness in preparing students for careers in archaeology. Field schools conducted on San Clemente Island, one of the Channel Islands off the coast of California, serve as useful case studies for considering such questions. These programs are discussed in the context of relevant learning theories to evaluate the role that they have played and been expected to play in the development of future archaeologists. In this paper, it is argued that their ultimate benefits are in the opportunities they provide for authentic learning through the formation of a research community. These experiences engage students as active participants in the culture of archaeological research, something that cannot be achieved in the classroom setting alone.