Teaching Political Science in the Poorest State in the U.S. And the Poorest Country in Africa: Similarities and Differences

21 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2009

See all articles by Robert M. Press

Robert M. Press

University of Southern Mississippi

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

Last fall, when I walked into the unlit, unequipped hall on a college campus in Sierra Leone and found some 160 political science students squeezed onto the narrow wooden benches in front of wooden tables, I had two questions: (1) how motivated were these students? (2) could I turn this large class into a seminar and use the same community service, research requirements, and interactive learning style I used in the much smaller classes back in Mississippi? The answers would reveal much about how some pedagogical theories on learning and teaching apply (or not) across cultures and regardless of class size and equipment. This paper also makes some comparisons between my classes in Sierra Leone and Mississippi.

Keywords: teaching, political science, pedagogy, community service

Suggested Citation

Press, Robert M., Teaching Political Science in the Poorest State in the U.S. And the Poorest Country in Africa: Similarities and Differences (2009). APSA 2009 Toronto Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1448981

Robert M. Press (Contact Author)

University of Southern Mississippi ( email )

118 College Drive #5108
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
United States
601-266-4011 (Phone)
601-266-4172 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.usm.edu

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