This is my learning intentions post for our new BCFP (BC First Peoples) project, where we’re starting to think like anthropologists. In this project, we’re exploring how to understand unfamiliar societies using observation, analysis, and ethical thinking. It’s a new way of looking at the world through different perspectives instead of just our own. This post shares what I already know, what I’ve learned so far, and my goal as an anthropological thinker.

What I Understand So Far

Well, so far I have very limited knowledge of the project. We have only started the launch benchmark but I did learn a bit from the dashboard. We learned how to adopt an anththropoligical perspective. So far, I understand that anthropology is the study of humans and cultures, how people live, think, and connect with each other. It helps us look at the world from different points of view. Anthropology is not obvious, and assumptions are dangerous.

What I Learned in the Launch

In our launch activities, I learned how perspective really shapes the way we see and interpret anything. For example, we got shown this photo…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From this, at first I wasn’t sure how this had to do with anything. As my teachers challenged me to think, I realized that there is so much you can notice so much about human society from this simple image of a Starbucks cup. I had many assumptions that I soon found out were in fact not true. When we compared how different people might describe the same event, it showed how much our own experiences and background can influence what we notice. We also practiced observing objects and people without making assumptions, which helped me realize how easy it is to jump to conclusions. This activity connected directly to the idea of removing bias when studying unfamiliar societies.

My Learning Intention

“My goal as an anthropological thinker is to see the world through different perspectives so I can understand people and cultures without my own bias getting in the way of my learning.”

This is my learning intention I made in the launch activity after being given three learning intention stems. I chose this goal because I’ve realized how easy it is to see things only from my own experience, and I want to challenge that. By taking on an anthropological perspective, I can learn to observe and analyze without judging or jumping to conclusions.