Physical/Biological Anthropology/Poster Projects
A number of
years ago I created a poster assignment for one of my
anthropology classes. Much like the presentation of research in
poster sessions at the AAA meetings, I wanted my students to
fashion their original research in a way that would stress the
development of the project as well as its presentation and
explanation to the public. By creating a public research
opportunity for my students, they develop necessary research and
presentation skills while teaching the greater college community
significant issues in the discipline. The themes of the poster
projects change every term. In the examples here students
demonstrate both research and creative skills. One student
focused on her interest in developing expertise in studio art and
forensics. Her final project was a very well done focus on
forensic illustration. Another expressed an interest in
understanding when human bodily adornment developed in the
archaeological record, while a third illustrated his own artistic
skills in a consideration of the diversity of hominids. Another
presented on the topic of human migration and its significance in
terms of human variation. One of the most creative approaches to
gene flow was offered by a student who took photographs of the
ethnic diversity represented at our college. Other topics
included the diversity of prehistoric human culture, the nature
of Homo erectus and the important contributions of Jane
Goodall to anthropology. Overall, the poster presentations in
Physical/Biological Anthropology allowed for a creative approach
to research at the public level of my college.
A number of
years ago I created a poster assignment for one of my
anthropology classes. Much like the presentation of research in
poster sessions at the AAA meetings, I wanted my students to
fashion their original research in a way that would stress the
development of the project as well as its presentation and
explanation to the public. By creating a public research
opportunity for my students, they develop necessary research and
presentation skills while teaching the greater college community
significant issues in the discipline. The themes of the poster
projects change every term. In the examples here students
demonstrate both research and creative skills. One student
focused on her interest in developing expertise in studio art and
forensics. Her final project was a very well done focus on
forensic illustration. Another expressed an interest in
understanding when human bodily adornment developed in the
archaeological record, while a third illustrated his own artistic
skills in a consideration of the diversity of hominids. Another
presented on the topic of human migration and its significance in
terms of human variation. One of the most creative approaches to
gene flow was offered by a student who took photographs of the
ethnic diversity represented at our college. Other topics
included the diversity of prehistoric human culture, the nature
of Homo erectus and the important contributions of Jane
Goodall to anthropology. Overall, the poster presentations in
Physical/Biological Anthropology allowed for a creative approach
to research at the public level of my college.
