Course Notes from Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

Importance of the syllabus as a contract between students and teacher.
Reminder to email directly, using course code (AMP 340) in the subject line to avoid missed communications.
Expectations regarding response time for emails—up to two business days.
Details on virtual office hours and need for students to fill out availability forms (blue code).
Special consideration for late assignments: 20% deduction per day after a 48-hour grace period; students encouraged to communicate difficulties rather than lose marks.
Procedures for requesting special consideration have changed; students must go through the anthropology department.
Acknowledgment of teaching assistants (TAs) and their role in grading assignments for consistency.

Request for special consideration must be made within 72 hours; students expected to manage this themselves.
Emphasis on critical thinking skills expected in third year; students should come prepared with questions.
Not all lectures will provide outlines; students should develop personal note-taking skills.
Importance of writing notes by hand to improve retention and comprehension.
Advise to have a 'note-taking buddy' to cover missed classes; sharing of notes not permitted by instructors.
Important deadlines for the theory assignment, including article selection, and the expectation of individual articles with no overlaps.
Required article to focus on materials and methods section; rarity of metatheoretical analysis in articles.
Preparation for labs includes pre-reading specific materials concerning lab content.

Importance of receiving feedback during practicals to improve work quality and learning outcomes.
Stress on critical thinking skills in lab tasks, moving beyond rote responses.
Revised feedback process; students are encouraged to bring completed or draft work for critique.
Mention of academic integrity policies and the use of Turnitin for submissions.
Structure and expectations around exit tickets and direct contributions during classes.
Importance of thorough preparation and meaningful participation in labs.

Discussion about the term test and changes to testing format (in-person tests replacing online tests).
Concerns about using AI during tests; risks damage to grades if attempts are made to use it.
Potential for an open-book test, with discussion about test format (online vs. paper).
Importance of continuous attendance and engagement to succeed.
Participation methods and feedback mechanisms will evolve based on class needs.

Options for test formats discussed; consideration of student preferences for writing materials.
Introduction of behavior and practice related to taking open book tests.
Stress on the necessity of preparing and retaining information.

Importance of visual inventory tools and documentation in skeletal data analysis.
Clear legend requirements for data representation and absence/presence indicators.
Explanation of MNI (Minimum Number of Individuals) and methodologies for skeletal analysis.
Need for thorough and conscientious data entry during practical assessments.

Overview of bioarchaeology vs. forensic anthropology and their differing objectives.
Highlighting importance of context in understanding skeletal remains, including trauma and health indicators.
Encouragement to consider broader socio-environmental issues affecting anthropology today, such as climate change and historical population interactions.
Discussion about the necessity of triangulating data from various sources to build comprehensive anthropological narratives.