A few days after finals week I flew to Botswana to be part of UT-Austin Botswana Study Abroad & Field School led by Drs. Thoralf Meyer & Kelley Crews. I was working primarily as a Research Assistant to Dr. Crews but was also mentored by both on the inter-workings of running a field school and study abroad program. Being in the classroom teaching the subjects I care about was already one of the primary reasons for going back for a PhD. Now, after this in-depth teaching experience developing a study aboard, where informal daily teaching takes place at a level unattainable in the classroom, is a primary future goal. For instance, each night at dinner I sat with a different group of students and had extensive discussions with them on a myriad of topics I had either touched on while moderating student presentations, noted while giving a lecture, etc. Not looking up at the clock when having these discussions, or taking away from valuable/limited classroom lecture time, but instead going into detail, and allowing for back and forth discussion was a teaching opportunity hard to imagine in other situations than a faculty-led study abroad setting. It was an unparalleled experience in so many ways. Thank you to Thoralf & Kelley for the innumerable learning expediences this summer instilled. That said, the wildlife was spectacular of course! A few of my favorite photos below. |