John W. Hoopes

My teaching focuses on active engagement with anthropology, archaeology, and the pre-Hispanic indigenous cultures of Latin America, with special emphasis on complex societies of Mesoamerica, Central America, and South America. I offer course on topics such as ancient Mayas and Chibchan-speaking cultures of southern Central America. In 1996, I was the first KU faculty member to develop web-based course materials. I have relied upon digital syllabi and course materials ever since. I encourage familiarity with online materials while at the same time teaching rigorous critical thinking. My regular assignments include new Wikipedia entries in which students publish their own research. I use interactive digital guest presentations by authors of assigned readings, bringing them into the classroom by telephone and Skype. In undergraduate teaching, I emphasize archaeological theory and cumulative knowledge. I teach "Introduction to Archaeology" (ANTH 110), in which I combine method and theory with a comprehensive introduction to world prehistory from the human evolution to urban states. Students learn new concepts and information, evaluated with extensive quizzes and tests. "Archaeological Myths and Realities" (ANTH 410) emphasizes critical thinking, contrasting fallacious conceptions and beliefs with scientific archaeology and teaching students to determine which controversies are significant in current research. "The Rise of Civilization" (ANTH 415) is organized around the transition from mobile hunters and gatherers to settled farmers and villagers and the one from agricultural villages to stratified urban states in six major culture areas. Each of these provides students with substantial knowledge about how archaeology investigates effective problem solving in both the past and present. In upper-division courses, I use student feedback to modify content and sustain active engagement. I teach courses in a regular cycle on ancient Mesoamerica (ANTH 506), the Mayas (ANTH 507), and the Andes (ANTH 508) that emphasize current research and are open to graduate students and upperclassmen from several disciplines. "Shamanism Past & Present" (ANTH 603) focuses on a critical evaluation of a concept applied to cultures ranging from hunting and gathering societies of the Ice Age in Europe to contemporary Siberia, North America, and Latin America. Its scope ties archaeology to the history of science, religious studies, art history, cognitive science, medical anthropology, and popular culture. The controversial subject resonates in contemporary culture but demands rigorous critical thinking to distinguish myth from science. Students learn to identify significant problems and have the knowledge and skills to address them with intellectual and academic rigor. Most of my graduate advising has been at the Master's level, with a smaller number of Ph.D. advisees. I have supervised research on subjects ranging from Great Plains to Chinese archaeology. I have chaired twelve M.A. and four Ph.D. degrees to completion and have served on numerous other graduate committees. My students develop substantial knowledge within their discipline as well as both informal and formal knowledge of leading scholars, programs, and research projects. I emphasize high levels of ethics and professionalism, strive to be an effective mentor, and am especially proud of students who have developed effective fieldwork skills in foreign languages and countries. At the doctoral level, I place a high priority on competence in theory as well as methodology and on clarity of thought and presentation. Mindful of placement and keen competition for employment, I help students develop effective professional networks, communicate with academic colleagues, present research at professional conferences, and publish research results. I emphasize strong work habits, goal-setting, and clear timelines for completion of specific requirements. I communicate with students regularly through face-to-face meetings, email, and even text messages, striving to be available to them throughout their programs while avoiding overly dependent relationships.