All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Effective Class Activities

In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to innovative strategies for teaching biological anthropology, a field that intertwines the complexities of human history, culture and biology.

Led by Dr. Michael Rivera, Hong Kong’s first bioanthropologist, this session will highlight his development of a Common Core course designed to engage students in the fascinating study of human beings. The course, titled ‘All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Humans’ (CCST9081), serves as a model for how new and varied approaches can enrich the learning experience. Discussions will first focus on overcoming common challenges in teaching interdisciplinary content. By sharing insights and experiences, participants will gain a toolkit of best practices tailored for their own courses and departmental/faculty contexts.

Then, he will be joined by previous students from the course, as they will assist in demonstrating such effective pedagogical techniques that promote active learning and enhance their engagement. Participants will hear from them on their favorite in-class activities, collaborative assignments, public-oriented projects, and digital tools. Attendees will also participate in hands-on activities that illustrate how to implement these strategies in their own classrooms. This workshop promises to be a valuable opportunity for educators looking to deepen their pedagogy, not only making complex academic concepts more accessible to students, but also encouraging critical thinking and interdisciplinary connections in class.