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Anthropology instructor converting study abroad course into virtual seminar

It鈥檚 a major lesson in anthropology: humans adapt. So it鈥檚 no surprise that when University of Colorado Boulder听anthropologist Laura DeLuca needed to adapt in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, that鈥檚 exactly what she did.听

DeLuca, an instructor with the First Year Academic Experience in Social Science, Math and Statistics at CU Boulder, has taught ANTH 4020-810: Conservation and Indigenous Peoples, also known as Global Seminar Tanzania, since 2012. It鈥檚 a three-week study abroad course that sends students on a 9,084-mile trip to the East African country to study the culture and learn about conservation efforts there.听

But when the pandemic hit, DeLuca had two options: cancel or adapt. But adapt how?听

This fall, DeLuca found the answer. She worked with CU Boulder鈥檚 Education Abroad office and , the Tanzanian company that鈥檚 been hosting the course, to create a virtual version. And in November, she announced the seminar is a go鈥攊t will be held in May 2021.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e coming together in ways we haven鈥檛 before to make this happen,鈥� said DeLuca, who did her PhD field work in Tanzania from 2000 to 2001 living in a tent near the Serengeti. 鈥淚鈥檓 always excited to share my love for East Africa with students. Our world is becoming more globalized, and it鈥檚 extremely important for them to understand and appreciate that.鈥澨�

Details of the course are still being finalized, but it will include live safari drives and lectures from Tanzanian leaders and conservationists such as Edward Loure, an international award winner for his work on the environment.听

DeLuca said she鈥檚 already discovering advantages of the virtual route. 鈥淲e can bring in many unique voices and not be constrained by travel,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easier for a number of people to come together; it increases accessibility. It鈥檚 also less expensive for students 鈥� with no need for plane tickets, food and lodging and it鈥檚 available for those who may have physical or health constraints that prevent them from travel.鈥�

One student who鈥檚 considering taking the class said her interest didn鈥檛 fade when she learned it would be virtual.

鈥淥f course, it would be amazing to travel to Tanzania, but I know it鈥檚 not a possibility,鈥� said Elena Scheibler, a freshman psychology major who learned about a Tanzanian tribe, the Maasai, in DeLuca鈥檚 Regional Cultures of Africa course this past fall. 鈥淚 found the Maasai very interesting and I鈥檇 like to learn more.鈥澨�

Scheibler, like all students, has had plenty of virtual courses since COVID-19, but she鈥檚 also finding positives.听

鈥淚t definitely isn鈥檛 easy but I do appreciate that I can go back after class and re-watch a lecture in case I鈥檓 still confused,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n some classes, we鈥檝e even been able to virtually bring in different speakers, which would have been much more difficult to听do in person because a lot of the speakers don鈥檛 live in Boulder.鈥澨�

If she does enroll in the study abroad class, Scheibler will get to talk with Tanzanian tribe members, said Joshua Peterson, Dorobo Safari鈥檚 director.听

鈥淚 think a lot of interesting and surprising things will arise once the course is running,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淥ne of those will be how hunter-gatherers handle and react to the technology involved 鈥� speaking in front of a computer to a group of people on a screen. Although phones are becoming much more widespread, a Zoom meeting is something they still don鈥檛 often do.鈥�

Peterson said he believes that interaction between the students and locals will be a course highlight. 鈥淐onnecting with individuals rather than just studying about them in textbooks will be one of the most interesting and useful parts of the course.鈥�

DeLuca said the course will cover conservation, globalization and development for indigenous communities including the Maasai, Iraqw and Hadzabe people who live near national parks and protected areas.

鈥淲e鈥檒l explore links between these communities, examine the ecological and political issues associated with the Western-inspired national park model of conservation and resource management,鈥� DeLuca said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l also focus on the Serengeti-Mara and Tarangire-Manyara ecosystems, arguably two of Tanzania鈥檚 most important biological resources that feature intense conflicts between wildlife preservationists and advocates of local communities living in or near protected areas.鈥�

The class will also include an independent research project, interviews and meetings with conservation and national park experts, roundtable discussions with CU Boulder alumni, Swahili language lessons, cooking demonstrations and wildlife viewing.

DeLuca believes virtual study abroad courses may become a regular option. When she presented her idea of a virtual study abroad course to the Anthropology Club in November, DeLuca said members liked it because it鈥檚 more affordable and it opens the door for more students to take the class.听

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal reported that several universities are now offering virtual study abroad courses.听

鈥淟ike so many of the new or newly adopted technologies such as Zoom meetings, I think once they鈥檙e incorporated, they鈥檒l continue to co-exist in study abroad and in anthropology field study,鈥� DeLuca said.