Cultural Anthropology A Problem-based Approach Pdf 35
Bernd Manison
Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach
Cultural anthropology is the study of human cultures, beliefs, practices, values, and social organizations. It is a branch of anthropology that examines how people in different parts of the world live and make sense of their lives. Cultural anthropologists use various methods, such as participant observation, interviews, surveys, and historical documents, to collect and analyze data on different aspects of human societies.
One of the main goals of cultural anthropology is to understand and explain the diversity and similarity of human cultures. Cultural anthropologists are interested in how people adapt to their environments, how they communicate and interact with each other, how they create and maintain their identities, how they cope with change and conflict, and how they express their values and beliefs through symbols, rituals, art, and stories.
A problem-based approach is a way of teaching and learning cultural anthropology that focuses on real-world problems and questions rather than topics or themes. A problem-based approach encourages students to engage with the material in a more active and critical way, by applying their knowledge and skills to analyze and solve problems that are relevant to their own lives and the lives of others. A problem-based approach also fosters a deeper understanding of the complexity and diversity of human cultures, as well as the connections and interdependencies among them.
Benefits of a Problem-Based Approach
A problem-based approach has several benefits for both students and instructors of cultural anthropology. Some of these benefits are:
- It stimulates students' curiosity and motivation to learn by presenting them with challenging and meaningful problems that relate to their own experiences and interests.
- It develops students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills by requiring them to identify, research, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources and perspectives.
- It enhances students' communication and collaboration skills by encouraging them to work in groups, share ideas, give feedback, and present their findings.
- It promotes students' cultural awareness and sensitivity by exposing them to different cultural contexts, values, and viewpoints.
- It prepares students for future academic and professional endeavors by equipping them with the skills and competencies that are essential for the 21st century.
Examples of a Problem-Based Approach
A problem-based approach can be implemented in various ways in cultural anthropology courses. Some examples of problems or questions that can be used as the basis for a problem-based approach are:
- How do people cope with the effects of globalization on their cultures and identities?
- How do gender roles and relations vary across different cultures?
- How do religious beliefs and practices influence social behavior and morality?
- How do kinship systems and family structures affect individual rights and obligations?
- How do power and inequality shape social stratification and conflict?
Each problem or question can be explored from multiple angles, using different theoretical frameworks, concepts, methods, and case studies. Students can be assigned to work in groups or individually, depending on the size and level of the class. The instructor can provide guidance and feedback throughout the process, as well as assess the students' performance based on their participation, research, analysis, presentation, and reflection.
Resources for a Problem-Based Approach
There are many resources available for instructors who want to adopt a problem-based approach in their cultural anthropology courses. One of them is a textbook titled Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach, written by Richard H. Robbins (State University of New York at Plattsburgh) Rachel A. Dowty Beech (University of New Haven). This textbook is organized by problems and questions rather than topics or themes, creating a natural discussion of traditional anthropological concerns such as kinship, caste, gender roles, religion. This textbook also provides exercises, case studies, simulations, online resources, instructor resources, student resources, that can help instructors design engaging and effective problem-based learning activities for their students.
A PDF version of this textbook can be downloaded for free from the Internet Archive. Alternatively, it can be purchased from SAGE Publications or other online bookstores.
References:
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach by Richard H. Robbins and Rachel A. Dowty Beech
- Richard H. Robbins's profile
- Rachel A. Dowty Beech's profile
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Table of Contents
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Exercises
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Case Studies
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Simulations
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Online Resources
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Instructor Resources
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - Student Resources
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - PDF Download
- Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach - SAGE Publications