Various Anthropology Classes- Original Student Websites

In recent years I have modified my class projects to allow students to develop their interests in anthropology in line with their personal skills and desired approaches. Openness to the format of projects in the anthropology classroom has offered me new insights about topics presented by the class. Ideal learning involves a dialogue between students and instructors, and I believe that student research is an excellent area to begin this focus. One of the optional formats of the projects is a website. Although technological skills are required in this assignment, a number of students have applied their interests in technology to understanding issues in anthropology and sociology. In a recent Gender class a student developed a very resourceful site for the local LGBTQ community. Another produced a fascinating overview of the concept of transhumanism as it relates to Physical/Biological Anthropology. One of the most remarkable projects I have seen is a student‰s website that focuses on the issue of premature puberty for my Physical/Biological Anthropology course. I currently feature these three websites on my department page in order to highlight the work of my students as well as utilize their work as a form of public pedagogy.

Cultural Anthropology- Reflexive Student Projects

For both my Cultural Anthropology and my Introduction to Sociology classes, I have used the life histories of students as a springboard to understand contemporary social issues. Two recent projects highlight the value of anthropological assignments that stress the reflexive understanding and applications of course concepts. In the first case a student developed an original photo essay that related his personal interest in transcendentalism and urban sprawl. In the second a student used a ‰career ladder‰ concept to discuss his recent personal reflections on the problems associated with social class and the service industry.