We are officially back again! The Spring 2011 semester is underway and it looks like another very active and engaging set of classes. My three courses consist of:
1. Medical Anthropology: ANTH 3252 – DE format – Undergraduate
2. Professional Development Anthropology: ANTH 4501 – Face to Face – Undergraduate
3. Ethnic Health & Health Disparities: MPH 6008 – DE format – Graduate
All three courses presents their challenges because they require me to design the course material in an approach that appeals to three different student audiences. In particular, my two DE classes allow me to present my lecture material in podcasts and webcasts formats. Although it takes alot of extra prep time to get these podcasts and webcasts lectures together, once I begin recording each lecture that’s when the fun starts. By the end of each podcast and webcast lecture, I cover a majority of my key critical thinking points and also try to keep each lecture fresh and entertaintaining. Both of these DE courses (Medical Anthropology and Ethnic Health & Health Disparities) are very unique courses in which I can feel that students truly want to take what they learn from these classes and apply these concepts and issues to real life medical and health care issues.
As for my Professional Development Anthropology class, it is designed to give students practical real life skills and opportunities that will prepare them for the next stage in their academic or professional careers. Here I try to get all students to take that important step forward now by asking questions, listening to experts who visit the class, and visiting ECU programs that will give them special insight into professionalizing their anthropological training. Of course the overall goal of the class is to provide students with more of an organized and visual outlook of their future in the field of anthropology. Yet the real outcome of this class is to reduce the anxiety and uncertainty that many students feel when taking the next step forward in their professional careers. Something that all of us face at some point in our career. Matter of fact, I wish that I had a course like this when I was an undergraduate anthropology major at Miami University (Oxford, OH) back in the 70s!
That’s right, another semester is underway and I’m looking forward to learning something new again!