Teaching Philosophy
Classroom Setting
|
My academic experience has qualified me to teach the following classes:
Introduction to Archaeology Introduction to Anthropology Introduction to Anthropological Theory Introduction to Biological Anthropology Introduction to Archaeological Science Introduction to Geoarchaeology Introduction to Archaeological Statistics Advanced Geoarchaeological Method and Theory Advanced Archaeological Science Quantitative Methods in Archaeology Archaeological Method and Theory Prehistoric North America European Prehistory Mediterranean Prehistory Technology in Human Evolution Human Origins |
My primary teaching philosophy is to foster an open and positive environment through a commitment for diversity and inclusion in the classroom. In the age of misinformation, my secondary goal is to enhance critical thinking skills by teaching students to navigate and critically consume scientific literature. I strive to accomplish these goals by actively engaging students with hands-on class exercises and recursive teaching methods for learning, organizing, and retaining evidence-based knowledge, for which to better navigate future learning both in and outside of the classroom setting.
Creating Inclusive, Active, and Positive Teaching Environments
Field SettingAs a Field Director for the Stelida Naxos Archaeological Project and Geoarchaeology Instructor for the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History's Archaeological Field School, I am equally dedicated to teaching archaeological method and theory in field settings.
My field teaching philosophy seeks to prepare students for both academic and professional (CRM) jobs. I emphasize the importance of drawing multiple working hypotheses (Chamberlin), falsifying assumptions (Popper), and investigation of archaeological problems via differential diagnosis, especially to tackle issues of site formation. I blend this theory with applied empirical methods such as geological stratigraphy, sediment and soil sampling methods, and archaeological excavation techniques, including mapping and illustration. |