![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sarah-Cunningham-Main.jpg?resize=638%2C410&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
By Heather Doherty<\/a><\/em> \u00a0 Sarah Cunningham<\/a> came to Oregon State University in 2012 as an instructor in the College of Liberal Arts<\/a>\u2019 Department of Anthropology<\/a>. She began working with online students through Oregon State Ecampus in 2013, and also serves as the anthropology graduate program coordinator and the Food in Culture and Social Justice program coordinator. She previously worked as an anthropology instructor at Western Oregon University and was a founding coordinator of OSU’s campus food pantry. Sarah earned a B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology from Ball State University in Indiana and a Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology from Oregon State.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI like to think of myself as a facilitator of learning in both the classroom and beyond. In addition to guiding students through particular topics, I try to hold up a mirror with which they can also examine their own experiences, perspectives and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was fascinated by anthropology when I discovered it my first term in college. In particular, I was impressed with the breadth of potential topics of study and also drawn to the discipline\u2019s potential for addressing real-world problems. It seemed then, and still seems now, like the perfect blend for a lifelong learner who wants to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing I find most fascinating in anthropology is the incredible flexibility of culture. Societies have so many different ways of thinking about and doing things, and these are always changing. There\u2019s always something new to be learned,” says Ecampus anthropology instructor Sarah Cunningham.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cI am presently in the analysis phase of a study of OSU\u2019s campus food pantry. Specifically, I am interested to learn how the pantry\u2019s organizational culture has contributed to its growth and development since it was founded a few years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing I find most fascinating in anthropology is the incredible flexibility of culture. Societies have so many different ways of thinking about and doing things, and these are always changing. There\u2019s always something new to be learned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLearning together with students from diverse backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think one of the greatest strengths of online learning is that is can be so multimodal. We all have our preferred ways of learning, but learning in lots of different ways is most beneficial for us all. Online classrooms can make use of a wide array of learning activities that engage not only our preferred learning styles, but also learning styles that are outside of our comfort zone and all the more impactful as a result.\u201d<\/p>\n “<\/span>In addition to guiding students through particular topics, I try to hold up a mirror with which they can also examine their own experiences, perspectives and culture.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cI work hard to give thoughtful feedback on my students\u2019 work, big assignments and low-stakes learning activities. I make use of a lot of questions in this feedback because my goal is not just to make sure students get \u2018the right answer,\u2019 but to help them think thoroughly and critically about the matters at hand. Hopefully, they read that feedback and are encouraged to apply the skills and lessons they learn in my classes as they make their way in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t call myself very tech-savvy, but I have become bolder in that regard since I began teaching online. As I got more training from OSU Ecampus, I was impressed with all the neat tools and techniques that are available to instructors, and eventually I got brave enough to try many of them out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake the most of the opportunities that college affords to learn outside of your field of specialization. Make it your goal to leave college prepared for your chosen career and <\/em>to be a thoughtful citizen of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love reading fiction, though I sometimes find it hard to make time for it. I also enjoy puzzles of all sorts, cooking, scrapbooking and playing disc golf.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>\u201cI like to think of myself as a facilitator of learning in both the classroom and beyond. In addition to guiding students through particular topics, I try to hold up a mirror with which they can also examine their own experiences, perspectives and culture,” Sarah says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":310,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[673],"tags":[116,26,25,24],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-anthropology","tag-distance-education","tag-online-education","tag-online-learning"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sarah-Cunningham-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-4A","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1127,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/brenda-kellar-anthropology-online\/","url_meta":{"origin":284,"position":0},"title":"Anthropology in action explores complex human issues","author":"Julie Cooper","date":"February 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"I love finding practical ways to make students\u2019 goals a reality.\" Ecampus anthropology advisor and instructor Brenda Kellar has been a leader in the anthropology program since Oregon State first began offering the degree online, but as a three-time OSU alumna, her roots go even deeper.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Brenda Kellar, Ecampus anthropology advisor. 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The two Ecampus anthropology students each earned high honors from OSU while learning at a distance.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Aryn-Sanderson-2015-ANTH-grad-web.jpg?fit=380%2C271&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1099,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-student-instructor-interaction\/","url_meta":{"origin":284,"position":2},"title":"Despite distance, online learners build lasting connections","author":"Julie Cooper","date":"January 17, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University\u2019s online learners do what many say can\u2019t be done: form genuine connections in the digital classroom. Ecampus alumni from the Class of 2018 shared how their interactions with peers and instructors went far beyond the computer screen, providing the opportunity to polish their communication skills and collaborate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Oregon State Ecampus liberal studies alumna Janine Romero stands on a balcony speaking to her husband, Lee. 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Online learners are no exception, and through interactive learning opportunities across Oregon State Ecampus degree programs, they\u2019re able to apply their learning right where they live and study.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A close-up of a person's hands as they demonstrate an interactive learning activity in which they measure rocks and soil clumps with a measuring tape. 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And what better way to do so than by being the ones to conduct the research?","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Fellows-2.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Fellows-2.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Fellows-2.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Fellows-2.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1193,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/reclaiming-tribal-histories-one-page-at-a-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":284,"position":5},"title":"Reclaiming tribal histories, one page at a time","author":"Erin J. Bernard","date":"May 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A Grand Ronde tribal member, Native American anthropologist and educator, David Lewis is committed to shining a light on our nation\u2019s forgotten and suppressed tribal histories, and sharing what he learns with the next generation of thinkers brings that work full circle.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/David-Lewis.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/David-Lewis.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/David-Lewis.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/David-Lewis.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/em><\/a>September 29, 2016<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBriefly describe your role as an anthropology Ecampus instructor.<\/h3>\n
What made you decide to get into this field of study?<\/h3>\n
![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sarah-Cunningham-headshot.jpg?resize=265%2C265&ssl=1\")
Are you currently working on any research projects? If so, briefly describe.<\/h3>\n
What would you say is the most fascinating aspect of this field of study?<\/h3>\n
In 10 words or less, what do you like most about teaching anthropology online?<\/h3>\n
What do you consider to be the main benefits of online learning?<\/h3>\n
How do you build a genuine connection with students who, in many cases, you’ll never meet in person?<\/h3>\n
How have you evolved as an educator since you began teaching classes online with Ecampus?<\/h3>\n
What advice would you like to give to students?<\/h3>\n
What are your favorite activities outside of work?<\/h3>\n