The University of Georgia recently hosted its inaugural Active Learning Summit to celebrate how the Active Learning Initiative is changing instruction across campus and explore ways to accelerate change in the future (UGA Today). Active learning in the Department of Anthropology at UGA has increased student classroom participation and improved learning outcomes, demonstrating its pedagogical value for the discipline and higher education. Anthropology enhanced a classroom several years ago to implement active learning and several faculty members now regularly use active learning strategies in courses across the curriculum. Students re-enact ancient battles in First Year Odyssey seminars, engage in problem-based learning in upper-level seminars, and carry out hands-on research of community-identified challenges. Anthropology encourages students to critically analyze and evaluate information to better understand complex social issues in the past as well as the present. Whether inside the classroom or in the field, active learning in anthropology can take many forms including conducting interviews, participating in cultural events, setting up museum exhibits, and following primates in the wild. Active learning is critical at every step for providing students with hands-on experiences that enhance their learning and an appreciation for diversity so they can develop into creative global thinkers. In today’s world, anthropologists do not just work in exotic locations, they can be found everywhere. The Department of Anthropology's active learning initiatives prepares students for careers in academia, government, corporations and businesses, non-profit and community-based organizations, and more. Most importantly, it provides students with opportunities to engage with their surroundings and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.
