This introductory course provides an overview of anthropological approaches to the study of education. Ethnographic cases drawn from many cultures, knowledge systems, and time periods help to provide a broad, holistic view of education in diverse community and institutional contexts. Modules may include: nurturing a sense of place; comparing folk, popular, and elite cultures; understanding cultural continuity and change; celebrating rituals and holidays; fostering cultural resilience and responsive reform policies; framing multicultural education; and appreciating the sociolinguistics of schools and home. Students have opportunities to participate in authentic schooling activities, to draft public advocacy pieces, to create team presentations, and to refine a personalized synthesis of a topic of interest. Anthropological field research methods are discussed as a means to craft compelling analytical accounts, but research training is not part of this course
Credits: 3.0