OC 21 Anthropology Students Explore Cultural History

Students from five different school districts in Putnam and Westchester Counties recently rode Metro North to Grand Central Station and embarked on a subway voyage to the American Museum of Natural History. The students had only seen each other once before, since all are enrolled in OC 21 (Online Courses for the 21st Century), a blended learning program sponsored by Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. Peekskill High School social studies teacher Anita Prentice, who wrote the curriculum for and teaches Introduction to Anthropology, led the expedition.

“During this course we communicate with each other and form a learning relationship over our computers online,” explained Prentice, ”so it is great to see the students in person and be able to share with them the resources of the culture halls at this great museum.” Dr. Jacklyn Lacey, an associate at the museum, gave the students a personal tour of the Hall of African People and a behind-the-scenes visit to the Department of Anthropology.

“We were so looking forward to visiting the home of anthropology in America,” Prentice recounted. “The students had written about Franz Boas and Margaret Mead and now could see their legacy at the Museum.”

Jasmine Vele, a junior at Peekskill High School, was struck by a coming-of-age mask and robe that would be worn by a young woman in the Liberian Vai tribe.  “I am familiar with rituals of a girl turning into an adult such as quinceanera, which has a pretty white dress, so when I saw what an African girl wears it was very eye-opening,” she said.

Tarin Rickett, a student at Croton-Harmon High School, was struck by some small animal figurines displayed in the Hall of Human Origins; they were carved more than 32,000 years ago from a mammoth tusk. “These creatures must’ve been very important and prominent in this culture; for such an early society, time would have been a precious resource, dedicated to survival, not luxuries such as this,” said Rickett.

Beginning this semester, Prentice’s semester-long course has been approved for college credit by the University of Albany, through the University High School program. The credits are transferable to other SUNY schools as well.  OC 21 courses, coordinated by Arthur Buchman at PNW BOCES, provide elective credits to students in a consortium of area high schools.

Millie Rivera,  a technology teacher assistant at Peekskill High School who also accompanied the group, said she was “impressed by how this program gets students familiar with the Blackboard software platform that many colleges use and require.”

Assistant Superintendent Joseph Mosey, who championed the OC 21 Program in Peekskill, said “We are excited to be able to offer forward-looking online learning opportunities to our students.”