Supervised Teaching in Anthropology
Anthropology 398T, Fall 1997Prof. Samuel M. Wilson
Department of Anthropology, University of Texas
Syllabus
This course is designed to provide you with information and experiences to make you a better teacher and teaching assistant. You will prepare a teaching portfolio -- a set of documents that can be used if you choose to apply for teaching jobs. We will also work towards developing transferable skills in teaching and public speaking. Many graduate students in anthropology will choose careers other than college teaching, so the skills emphasized in this class will be of use in any field, particularly those involving organizing information and communicating it to other people.The class meets Thursdays, 9-12 am, in EPS 1.128. Wilson's office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-5 p.m., and by appointment. Please consult the web page for this class for additional materials at: www.dla.utexas.edu/depts/anthro/courses
Texts and other materials:
Wilbert J. McKeachie, Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and
University Teachers. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath and Co. 1994.
Lewis, Karron G., Teaching Pedagogy to Teaching Assistants. Center for Teaching
Effectiveness, Univ. of Texas. A master copy of this manuscript will be
available in the departmental office.
Requirements and grading (and percentage of your final grade):
- Teaching Portfolio (30%):
1) Two syllabi for introductory courses in anthropology; 2) a general statement of your teaching philosophy; 3) a list of courses you are would be prepared to teach; 4) Any teaching or Teaching Assistant evaluations (Course-Instructor Surveys) you have received. [See attached assignment for more details]
- Microteaching (40%):
You will present two mini-lectures in class (15 minutes each) and have them videotaped for evaluation. One will present material on a different subdiscipline or topic from yours in lecture format; the other will demonstrate alternate teaching methods. We will review the tapes the week after they are made.
- In class evaluation (10%):
You will visit an undergraduate class taught in the department, observe student-teacher interactions, and write an evaluation.
- Other assignments (10%):
There will be two other written assignments based on the readings and our discussions.[See attached assignment for more details]
- Class participation (10%): Active participation (and therefore, attendance) are expected.
| Thurs. 28 Aug | Introduction to the course |
| Thurs. 04-Sep | Characteristics of effective teachers; McKeachie, Chapters 1-3 |
| Thurs. 11-Sep | Ethics and responsibilities in teaching; McKeachie, Chapters 23, 24, 26 |
| Thurs. 18-Sep | Instructional Design: Syllabi and course organization; Lewis, Chapter 5, pp. 73-92 |
| Thurs. 25-Sep | Kinds of learners, and ways of reaching them ... (Center for Teaching Effectiveness) [first course syllabus and other materials due; see Portfolio]; Lewis, Chapter 2 and 3 |
| Thurs. 02-Oct | Instructional Design: Choosing texts and readings; McKeachie, Chapters 8 and 20-22 |
| Thurs. 09-Oct | Lecturing; McKeachie, Chapter 5; Lewis, Chapter 6 [in-class evaluation due] |
| Thurs. 16-Oct | Microteaching (Center for Teaching Effectiveness); Lewis, Chapter 14 [second course syllabus and other materials due, including your "teaching philosophy" and list of courses you would be able to teach; see Portfolio] |
| Thurs. 23-Oct | Microteaching ; McKeachie, Chapters 9-13 |
| Thurs. 30-Oct | Leading discussion; alternative teaching methods; McKeachie, Chapter 5; Lewis Chapter 8 |
| Thurs. 06-Nov | grades and exams; motivating students; Review McKeachie, Chapter 8 |
| Thurs. 13-Nov | Microteaching; alternative methods; McKeachie, Chapters 14-17 |
| Thurs. 20-Nov | Microteaching; alternative methods; Lewis Chapter 15 |
| Thurs. 27-Nov | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| Thurs. 04-Dec | Final topics; McKeachie, Chapters 31-34 |