Teaching Philosophy/Pedagogy
I take much of my pedagogical inspiration from the works of bell hooks. As such, I sincerely believe in the socially liberating potential of the classroom and orient much of my material to highlight engaged projects within anthropology, archaeology, and the academy in general. The ability to teach others how to see the world critically opens up new spaces and opportunities for students, and benefits a global society. This is not an easy task and requires instructors be willing to learn from their students. Additionally, as engaged instructors we need to dispose of needless hierarchical posturing that intimidates students.
Additionally, I believe that academics need to "take it to the streets" and participate in community education as much as possible. For me, this has meant supporting and participating in the Gainesville Free University as well as helping community groups and individuals master new skills. My applied background is in computer mapping and I have found no shortage of eager students willing to apply these skills to a wide range of anthropological problems (e.g., mapping archaeological sites, digital storytelling, urban analysis). Ultimately, it has been some of these community volunteer 'positions' that have proved most rewarding for me.
Current & Upcoming Courses
Past Courses
| Spring 2010 - (ANT 2000) General Anthropology [UFL] |
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| Fall 2009 - (ANT 2000) General Anthropology [UFL] |
Evaluation |
Course evaluations are available approximately six months after a course is taught.
