If you are interested in the ways that anthropology can and is used to address and solve real issues that exist in and around the world then this is a blog post for you. This piece is part of a series of applied anthropology posts that address this very topic. Today’s blog post is about educational anthropology (also known as anthropology and education), and while it is most applicable to those interested in pursuing work as a educators it does have utility for those who have been or currently are students.
Educational anthropology is the application of anthropological method and theory in educational institutions and communities in order to understand and assess enculturation and cultural transmission among students within education. In simpler terms, educational anthropologists are concerned with understanding how education affects and transmits cultural norms, values, and beliefs onto those being educated. This area of anthropological study began during the late 1800s before being formalized in the early 1900s. Several different and important anthropologists are credited with contributing to this field, but the most notable is George Spindler, a cultural anthropologist who dedicate his career to this pursuit.
Educational anthropology requires the use of primarily sociocultural anthropological method and theory, which makes sense since the main concern of this area is to understand the culture of education and how education contributes to forming cultural identities. As culture is learned it makes sense that sociocultural anthropologists would be concerned with how education acts as a primary socialization agent and in what ways education helps create and inform individuals, specifically students (of all agents), about their culture.
Educational anthropology, however, has grown beyond just understanding the role of education as a cultural socialization agent. Educational anthropologists are also concerned with issues directly tied to education, specifically how the classroom environment affects teaching and learning. This often stems from anthropological interests in and the promotion of culture in the classroom, specifically if and when diverse cultural groups exist within the classroom setting. It is through the research of educational anthropologists that issues related to cultural misunderstandings among students and between faculty and students, faculty and administrators, and communities and schools have been realized. Case in point, if the curriculum is geared to a specific cultural group (e.g. American culture), but you have a large number of immigrants or international students in the classroom they may have difficulties understanding the lessons being taught. By realizing these challenges educational anthropologists have aided in identifying appropriate solutions to promote learning and encouraging more culturally inclusive educational practices.
In this vein educational anthropologists have also been concerned with issues of diversity in the classroom. This is related to the aforementioned point about being aware of and culturally sensitive to the audience (i.e. student body), but it also concerns how multicultural matters are addressed in the classroom. Issues related to providing culturally aware and accurate curriculum, increasing cultural representations in course work, and being aware of biases among students, educators, administrators, or within curriculum that foster unhealthy learning environments have all been brought up and addressed within the field of educational anthropology, thereby promoting solutions meant to help all students and educators.
Educational anthropology is a dynamic field that is ever changing but still incredibly important. It has lost some of its appeal in recent years as it was absorbed by education programs across various academic institutions. It is, however, an essential aspect of anthropological study, and it remains an important area of applied anthropology. As education continues to change educational anthropologists continue to be at the forefront of identifying and creating positive solutions.
Bibliography
Eddy, Elizabeth M. "Theory, Research, and Application in Educational Anthropology." Anthropology & Education Quarterly (1985): 83-104. Document.
Khoshman, Afaf A. "How Teachers Can Use Anthropology in Classrooms." 13 August 2018. Al-Fanar Media. Electronic. 22 July 2020.
Moursund, David and Harry Wolcott. "Educational Anthropology." 24 September 2016. IAE-Pedia. Electronic. 22 July 2020.
Spindler, George D. "Anthropology & Education: An Overview." Hodges, David Julian. The Anthropology of Education: Classic Readings. Cognella, 2011. Document.
6 comments:
love how this article blog talks about the problems around the world like the education system and communities
How do you succeed in maintaining multiple cultures existing amongst eachother inside a classroom? I not expecting a typical answer here either. I understand how broad my question and or maybe vague. But that’s an acquired skill if you can make multiple people from various cultural backgrounds not just learn together but succeed together. In a sense you are whatever field your in systematic coach to keep everything functioning positively.
-Jesse Logan
I think when it comes to being in the classroom in America a lot of these teachers don't care about the immigrants in their class, or even kids of color. I would usually see it from the white teachers and not the teachers of color. It kind of sucks because teachers in America are mostly white.
-Simone Jordan
I find this field important because as there are many things changing in the world, the classroom and educational stances seem to stay the same and learning seems repetitive learning to get a grade rather than learning to learn, this should always be studied because humans and brains have evolved our learning ways should do the same.
Qwynn Marquez
Especially with being an education major. If you would have asked me prior to taking an anthropology class can it relate to education I would have told you know. But it actually does in many ways. One key factor would be culture. Culture is a big part of education and anthropology. You will come across this no matter what kind of setting of teaching you are in. Every student comes from a different background and doesn’t go by the same rules or norms. And with being known you have to know how to approach students differently. Mainly because one thing you say one student may offend the next student.
I didn’t know that there is an educational anthropology. I believe that is important. I say this because we all need to learn about our culture and the importance of it. Educational anthropology is the application of anthropological method and theory in educational institutions and communities in order to understand and assess enculturation and cultural transmission among students within education.
AJ Moore
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