Dr Sandra Chacko
Department of Anthropology
 This course covers human biology with an emphasis on human evolution, and the
interaction between biology and culture.
 Major topics include: the scientific method, genetics, modern human variation, modern
primate biology and behavior, and the primate and human fossil record.
 This is a lecture and a laboratory class.
 Lab exercises focus on individual and population genetics, human variation, primate
biology and and behavior, primate and human osteology and artifacts and primate,
hominin and human fossil materials.
 Most students take ANTH 101 to fulfil the GE Plan A Natural Sciences Requirement or
a GE Plan B Lab Science requirement.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
Explain how the scientific method can be applied to the discipline of physical
anthropology.
2.
Identify the main areas of study in the discipline of physical anthropology and describe
how physical anthropology fits in with the other three fields of anthropological study.
3.
Discuss core concepts in the development and application of evolutionary theory,
human and population genetics, primate biology and behavior, modern human variation,
and the evolution of the human species.
4.
Evaluate how evolution leads to genotypic and phenotypic changes in species and
create basic primate and hominin phylogenies.
5.
Provide examples of contemporary human biological and cultural variation and
adaptation.
6.
Identify human and non-human skeletal materials and artifacts, as well as major
specimens in the primate and human fossil record.
Identify human and non-human skeletal materials and artifacts, as well as major
specimens in the primate and human fossil record.
Assessed with 5 questions added to final exam. Each question was worth 2 points for
10 points total. Students were considered successful if they got 7 or more total points.
We evaluated 76 students from 5 ANT 101 sections.
Label each of these specimens as human or non-human.
________________
_____________________
Label each of these specimens as human or non-human.
__Non-human________
______human_______
Label each of these specimens as human or non-human
__Non-human________
92% Two correct
8% One correct
0% Zero correct
______human_______
Label each of these tools with the name of the tool technology they represent.
_____________________
_____________________
Label each of these tools with the name of the tool technology they represent.
____Oldowan_______
_____ Acheulean____
Label each of these tools with the name of the tool technology they represent.
____Oldowan_______
_____ Acheulean____
79 % Two correct
10% One correct
11% Zero correct
List two characteristics that identify this as a primate skull.
List two characteristics that identify this as a primate skull.
Enclosed Eye Sockets
Large size of eye sockets
List two characteristics that identify this as a primate skull.
75% Two correct
22% One correct
3% Zero correct
Enclosed Eye Sockets
Dental Formula
Give the scientific name of each of the following species.
Give the scientific name of each of the following species.
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis Homo sapiens sapiens
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
Give the scientific name of each of the following species.
37% Two correct
21% Neanderthal correct
16% Modern Human correct
26% Neither correct
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis Homo sapiens sapiens
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
Give two reasons of why Ardipithecus is an important species in human
evolution.
1.
2.
Give two reasons of why Ardipithecus is an important species in human
evolution.
1. Illustrates mosaic evolution
2. Had both a grasping big toe and a bipedal pelvis
Give two reasons of why Ardipithecus is an important species in human
evolution.
1. Illustrates mosaic evolution
2. Had both a grasping big toe and a bipedal pelvis
58% Two correct
26% One correct
16% Zero correct
Total Points
Received
Succesful
Not successful
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Number of
Students
Percentage of
Students
16
21%
18
24%
16
21%
13
17%
7
9%
2
3%
3
4%
1
1%
0
0
0
63 83%
13 17%
1.
Re-evaluate these five questions in Fall 2017
2.
Evaluate questions in the lab portion of the class on a lab practical exam.
3.
Use casts of skeletal materials and tools rather than pictures in order to reduce
errors caused by students having trouble interpreting the pictures.
4.
Increase success rates on questions 4 and 5.