A Little About Me
I am a reformed academic, by that I mean that I taught college for 10 years and now I don't.
I loved the teaching part, but over time it became evident that I wasn't as good or enthusiastic about the endless administration parts of the job. It also became clear to me that philosophically my style of teaching/learning didn't fit into the current model of the "academic institution". I believe above all that students should learn how to think more than memorize by rote or regurgitate facts, they should also enjoy what they are learning. These incongruencies led to my departure from the classroom and if I am totally honest it has been somewhat of an existential crisis for me.
A Little More About Me
My academic studies are in the Social Sciences, undergraduate, master's level, and two Ph.D. programs. My areas of study included Anthropology, Archaeology, Geography, Human Ecology, and Social Work. My pathway through higher education wasn't always the straightest path but it has made me an incredibly diverse Professor and the general "Know It All" in most office environments.
Passion or Paycheck
I have agonized over how to share my passion for learning that refuses to be quenched. I know now that I will more than likely never teach inside the confines of academia again, but that doesn't lessen my desire to share what I know and to continue to impact the lives of others. I have always been intrigued by the idea of the "open" classroom or the "open university". This trend is gaining speed with what TIME called (October 29, 2012) Ivy League for the Masses or MOOCs (massive open online courses) that are operating both from traditional brick and mortar universities as well as independent ventures, both not-for-proft and for-profit. Most MOOCs are in areas of science or technology, the sexy subjects these days. I decided that for me, I needed to share my love of Anthropology, all things about human life with anyone who is willing to learn. So I give you, Creatures of Culture, my very own classroom about humans. I encourage you to join in the conversation. Maybe for some of my former students this is a refresher course and the opportunity to continue their lifelong learning.
