What’s going wrong with desk-based assessments?

This event has passed. For upcoming DBA workshops, please visit https://www.archaeologists.net/cifa-agm-workshop#

The Annual General Meeting will be held on on Monday 15 October, 2018 at Central Hall, Westminster, London and all members are invited to join us.  This will be preceded by a CPD workshop 'What’s going wrong with desk-based assessments?' and followed by the 2018 British Archaeological Awards ceremony.

Programme for the day

11:00 - 11:15   Arrival: tea and coffee

11:15 - 14:30   CPD workshop: What’s going wrong with desk-based assessments?

The poor old Desk-based Assessment (DBA) is a much-maligned beast. Despite being enshrined in planning policy, there still seems to be confusion as to what one is and what it’s for. Recent discussions with ALGAO have highlighted a number of problems including submission of DBAs when they aren’t actually required and the frequent appearance of documents that do little more than reiterate information already available in the HER, with no meaningful assessment of significance, potential or impact.

CIfA is currently undertaking a thorough review of its Standards and guidance, which includes consideration of where and why things might be going wrong. This workshop, which is aimed at anyone who commissions, writes or uses desk-based assessments, will take an in-depth view of what the Standard requires and why. It will also provide the opportunity for some collaborative working as we seek to improve the guidance to help members achieve a better-quality product.

The workshop will cover the following and lunch and refreshments will be provided

• Introduction to CIfAs standards and guidance project 

• Desk-based Assessment: what is it and what is it for?

• Discussion: barriers to achieving the Standard 

• Case study: what does a good DBA look like

•  Collaborative exercise: amending the guidance 

• Summary and close

A more detailed schedule with information about speakers and learning outcomes is available at www.archaeologists.net/cifa-agm-workshop

14:30 - 14:45   Tea and coffee break

14:45 - 15:45   CIfA AGM

16:00 - 17:30   2018 British Archaeological Awards Ceremony

The British Archaeological Awards are Britain's most prestigious independent awards, celebrating and showcasing the best in archaeology across the UK. The Awards' mission is to promote archaeology to practitioners and the wider public by celebrating and sharing excellence, innovation and engagement in archaeology.

17:30 - 18:30   Wine reception