Know Your Profs is an ongoing series of articles helping you get to know the instructors at Camosun College a bit better. Got someone you want to see interviewed? Email editor@nexusnewspaper.com and we’ll get on it! This issue’s victim… er, subject: Camosun anthropology instructor Tara Tudor.
1: What do you teach and how long have you been a teacher at Camosun?
At the moment I teach the introductory anthropology course (ANTH 104); cultural anthropology (ANTH 220); a course about culture, health, and illness (ANTH 270); a course about culture, language, and communication (ANTH 232); and a course about gender in cross-cultural perspective (ANTH 110). I have been teaching at Camosun since 2001.
2: What do you personally get out of teaching?
I get so, so much out of teaching. The biggest thing is inspiration. Our students are awesome, and I feel optimistic for the future of Canada knowing they are going to be our future teachers, policy makers, lawyers, nurses, business people, parents, etc. I feel incredibly blessed to have a job that allows me to read, write, and think about why people do the things they do, and think the way they think, and to share and discuss such understanding with the students.
I know most of the students in my classes will not major in anthropology, but if they can leave my class with one theory, or one insight that helps them later in life, then what I have done is meaningful.
3: What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
That I think they are amazing, and I care about them. I know this sounds cheesy, but it’s true, and I think all faculty members at Camosun feel this way about their students.
4: What’s one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
Not sure.
5: What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
There are so many fantastic moments that I can think of, but they all have to do with making a difference in the lives of students. Sometimes it is personal, sometimes it is academic.
I also love hearing about what former students are doing, whether it is continuing their studies in anthropology, or finding meaningful jobs outside of academia.
6: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
As a teacher, fortunately, nothing awful has happened. I have had challenges with helicopter parents, but you know they are acting the way they are because they love their kids, so it is easy to get over.ĘI could tell you a couple of non-teaching things that have happened that have sucked, but that wasn’t your question.
7: What do you see in the future of postsecondary education?
In terms of government funding or in terms of pedagogy? In terms of the former, I think it is highly dependent on which party is in power.
Given that the BC Liberals have just been re-elected, I think we can expect more budget cuts, which translates into colleges and universities having to consider new revenue streamsŃtuition hikes, larger class sizes, reduced student services, and less course offerings, none of which are beneficial to students. In terms of the latter, there is a great deal of discussion about current teaching methods as being outmoded.
Every year, new ideas are introduced: experiential learning, competency-based learning, more technology in the classroom, less lecturing, and so on. It is always good to reflect on what we are doing in the classroom, and consider what works and what doesn’t.
However, I also think that it is important not to view all “old school” teaching methods as needing to be abandoned. For example, I am going to continue to assign my students long academic articles. I don’t mean jargon-filled, inaccessible academic articles, but full-length articles.
Students will complain, and I will keep hearing that students no longer have the attention span to read long articles so we should give them shorter ones, but I see value in reading lengthy pieces, as well as spending time discussing and deconstructing them during class time.
The other thing is that funding and pedagogy are not separate issues.ĘReductions in capital spending for postsecondary institutions is going to put a significant damper on innovative teaching.
8: What do you do to relax on the weekends?
Relax? What does that mean? I’m kidding I like to go for a trail run, play ultimate, or wrestle with my kids.
9: What’s your favourite meal?
Fish tacos. Yum!
10: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Related to teaching? Or in general? At the moment, I would probably go with the Harper government’s desire to destroy the environment and muzzle scientists.