I just read the free part of this article on the proto Elam language. Made me wonder how teachers are using discoveries that change the way we understand the past. Tell me your stories and OER at what point do you consider incorporating a discovery into the story you tell?
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Anyone heard about the "new" script that is complicating the story about the earliest language?
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Eric Schulz how cool! I love learning about how language evolved. I'll tap in Bridgette OConnor and Bennett Sherry to share how we decide to add new content into our courses.
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Hey Eric Schulz and thanks for sharing the article on the proto-Elamite script! As for your question about how we consider incorporating new discoveries into the course, we have revised articles over the years when the scholarly community comes to a general consensus about the new information. We've also created activities such as When Did Humans Get to the Americas? that includes different theories for students to claim test and decide which one seems to be the most plausible explanation. I think we'll have to wait a bit longer to see how many linguists, archaeologists, and historians accept the claims of one French researcher's translations of the proto-Elamite script but it's exciting to think about as well as the new archaeological finds that keep adding to our knowledge of early humans and evolution.
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New discoveries (and the spread of knowledge about them!) was always one of my favorite ways to highlight to students how history changes. They often start a course with me under the impression that history and the past are the same thing or that history is a settled thing. The idea that we used to think x until we found new evidence often seems abstract to the kids, so bringing contemporary examples into the conversation helps.
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It is also one of my favorite things.
