Kate Magargal portrait
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Anthropology Department
  • Assistant Professor (Lecturer), Honors College

Current Courses

Fall 2024

  • HONOR 2285-050
    Energy and Society
  • HONOR 4471-002
    Sem/Wk-Science
  • HONOR 4471-003
    Sem/Wk-Science

Spring 2024

Teaching Philosophy

When reflecting on the work of my own teachers and professors, two teaching modes are thrown into contrast. The first teaching mode demands that the student intuit processual knowledge of the subject through lectures and problem sets. Classes in which this was the primary mode of learning were often difficult and opaque to me. The second mode still contained plenty of lecture-based class time, but the professors encouraged discussion, called on people, and frequently coursework involved novel experiences, such as field trips. Professors frequently talk about their own research and invite students to participate. As an undergraduate, I got involved with some of that research and was able to travel internationally to conduct fieldwork relating to my own research questions, followed by a series of forums where I presented my findings. I attribute much of my academic success as an undergraduate to professors who focused on encouraging me take initiative for my own college experience by revealing the ways in which they did so.

Now in the pursuit of an academic career, I often evaluate my personal motivations. I intend to continue on a career path that focuses on conducting research, however, I think the way I can contribute to other people’s success is as a teacher who helps people understand not just the content of our collective knowledge, but the process through which we develop that knowledge. Much research speaks to the success of active, learner-centered classrooms at any stage of an academic career. By structuring a course so students are required to practice good learning habits, students are also more likely to retain course content as well as understand the evidence that supports that content. This type of course structure helps students develop an ability to reflect on their own learning skills, which prepares them to not only continue pursuing their interests, but to also communicate those skills to future employers. I think the dual goals of research and teaching are intertwined, as one elevates the success and purpose of the other. In my career, I hope to develop courses that will engage students in topics about the human relationship to the environment through examination of- and participation in- research.

Courses I Teach

  • ANTH 1030 - World Prehistory
    TA for in-person section, Instructor for online section. Course Description: Introduction to the two-million-year-old archaeological record of human prehistory. This course is a broad introduction to the story of humanity prior to the advent of writing. Because we have no written words to account for many critical moments in our past, understanding human prehistory requires the discipline of archaeology to reconstruct past human behavior from the material remains our ancestors left behind. The course is divided into four parts designed to explain four keystone moments in human prehistory: how we 1) evolved, 2) colonized the planet), 3) domesticated wild resources, and 4) developed civilizations. Emphasis is placed on archaeological method and theory, human-environment interactions, scientific reasoning and hypothesis testing. Assignments are designed to sharpen student’s academic writing and critical thinking skills.
  • ANTH 4341 - Fundamentals of Archaeology
    TA. Course Description: Introduction to basic archaeological field and lab techniques through lec- tures, discussions, and field exercises.
  • ANTH 5890 - Quantitative Analysis of Archaeological Data
    This course introduces students to the basic quantitative methods required to describe and analyze archaeological data. Each week, students will be introduced to a new statis- tical technique and asked to use that technique in order to solve an archaeological research problem.
  • CMP 3851 - Dark Sky Studies: Nightscapes
    This course focuses on how our personal relationship with the night creates emergent systems of connections at multiple scales throughout the globe. Students will examine specific case studies of these connections in-depth and in so doing will gain interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in astronomy, biology, anthropology, engineering, and policy-making. At the core of this course are 2 main community-engaged projects. In collaboration with Salt Lake City and an additional Utah based community, students will design, conduct, and present work related to the challenges of maintaining a quality nighttime environment. The course will include some fieldwork, including learning how to use new drone technology to measure lighting impacts in communities inside and outside of Salt Lake City.

Teaching Projects

  • Archaeological Investigations of Red Butte Creek. Project Lead: Tom Flanigan. Collaborators: Brian Codding, Kate Magargal. 09/05/2015 - present.
  • Lower Dolores Watershed Archaeological Project. Project Lead: Kate Magargal. Collaborators: Brian Codding. 03/09/2015 - present.

Professional Education

  • Teaching in Higher Education (CTLE 6000). 01/09/2017 - present.
  • Teaching Assistant with the Wasatch Experience. A year-long monthly seminar focused on incorporating topics of sustainability into teaching content and practices. 08/22/2016 - present.
  • Fellowship through 'Think Globally, Learn Locally' NSF-GK12 program. Graduate student fellows created course curriculum for highschool and middle school classrooms, conducted classroom activities, communicated to students about their research, and participated in weekly pedagogical seminars. 08/15/2012 - 05/14/2014.