Jason Shepard Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Multi-faceted curriculum emphasized experiential learning

During the three-hour credit course, “Andes to the Amazon,” the students learned about Ecuador’s cultures and societies through experiential learning, according to Shepard. The curriculum included community tourism development, traditional medicine and agriculture.

Six individuals sitting outside in front of Andes mountains

Enjoying the beautiful outdoors near the lake town of San Pablo de la Laguna. L-R: Ryan Ziegler, Brynn Kayhill, Kinli Miller, Jason Shepard, Kai Schiller and Bailey Meesey. Photo credit: Juan Miguel Espinoza.

As part of the course, students conducted interviews, participated in field trips and kept daily field journals. They will use these field notes, Shepard said, along with lectures, interviews and additional research to construct presentations and posters. The students will then present their findings at an approved conference or public forum.

Five anthropology students from Missouri State University gave impressive performances at the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) conference March 26-30.

Two of those students, senior anthropology major Jacob Rosecrans and senior anthropology major McKennzee Newton, won first and second place honors, respectively, for their research poster presentations.

Senior anthropology major Brianna Rodgers and junior anthropology and agriculture double major Kyra Uphoff presented their research on the benefits of student-led college clubs, fielding questions from both faculty and students throughout the entire conference.

Junior sociology major Isabella Rossi gave an oral presentation of her research on public housing in St. Louis.

“All presented as undergraduates,” said Dr. Mary Willis, head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology (SAG). “That’s a huge accomplishment given that undergraduates are less likely to do their own research compared to graduates and less likely to have the chance to present.”

“Every single one of them was poised, confident, and able to talk about their research in clear, straightforward and engaging ways,” said associate professor Dr. Marnie Watson. “Their work was at the level of the graduate students and faculty who presented at the conference.”

“In fact, several people expressed amazement that our undergraduate students were able to engage so professionally with others at the conference,” she added.

The students were accompanied to the conference by Willis, Watson and instructor Jason Shepard.

During their stay, the students visited Pecos National Historical Park and several museums in Sante Fe’s Museum Hill. After the conference, the group enjoyed a celebratory dinner at Jambo Café, a Sante Fe restaurant that was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

“We didn’t realize that we would have so much to celebrate,” Willis said. “When I was looking at the posters before the award ceremony, another conference attendee said to me, ‘Wow, Missouri State really dominated the awards this year’.”