Teaching Tools is dedicated to the intersections between pedagogy, ethnography, and anthropology. The section is a growing resource for instructors, teaching assistants, and students, with everything from discussion guides and in-class activities to critically minded reflections on the practice, politics, and poetics of teaching anthropology, whether inside the academy or in alternative settings.

Contact Us

Questions and proposals for guest posts can be sent to section editor, Dana McLachlin ([email protected]).

Lessons for Learning-Centered Course Design

Lessons for Learning-Centered Course Design

A favorite joke in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) community is based on one of Bud Blake’s comic strips. Tiger, the titular character, is talki... More

Teaching the Anthropology of Dance

Teaching the Anthropology of Dance

Cultural Anthropology has published a number of research articles about dance, including Sally A. Ness’ “Originality in the Postcolony: Choreographing the Neoet... More

First Day Activity: Ten Things You Believe to be True

First Day Activity: Ten Things You Believe to be True

The first day of class is often a challenge for new instructors. After addressing the inevitable logistical issues (e.g., enrollment, the syllabus, access to co... More

Teaching Resources Round-Up

Teaching Resources Round-Up

At the most recent annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in Denver, I presented on and attended several panels focused on teaching-re... More

Teaching and Learning in Anthropology

Teaching and Learning in Anthropology

Hello! I’m excited to be serving as the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence for the Teaching Tools section of the Cultural Anthropology website. I have been teaching... More

Showing Up: Creating Captivating Presentations

Showing Up: Creating Captivating Presentations

There is a famous quote by Woody Allen that says “80 percent of success is showing up.” But this means showing up with all of you, and that requires more than j... More

A New Vision for Teaching Tools

A New Vision for Teaching Tools

As the new section editor for the Teaching Tools section of the Cultural Anthropology website, I want to take this opportunity to present my vision for the sect... More

Teaching Muslim Immigration and Integration in France

Teaching Muslim Immigration and Integration in France

Recently, the issue of Muslims living in and emigrating to various parts of Europe has been receiving much attention as difficulties with xenophobia and racism ... More

Teaching Representations of Islam in the Media

Teaching Representations of Islam in the Media

Learning Outcomes After this lesson, students will: Have an understanding of the different ways in which Western mass media content shapes our view of Islam.Hav... More

Teaching Embodiment through Technology

Teaching Embodiment through Technology

This three-hour class is intended to be modular: it is broken into three one-hour units (Embodiment, Technology, and the Case Study) that are designed to fit wi... More