Using YouTube Videos of Anthropology of Tourism Pioneer Valene Smith's Work and Philosophy to Balance the Tourism Curriculum

摘要

An analysis of four undergraduate tourism textbooks revealed a content imbalance tipped in favor of economics, or the business of tourism. Based on the concept of a balanced and interdisciplinary pedagogy implied by the Tourism Education Futures Initiative core values of stewardship, mutuality, and knowledge, YouTube videos highlighting the six-decade career and work of cultural anthropologist Valene Smith were introduced into two undergraduate tourism classes. The videos immediately augmented the curriculum with sociocultural content, exposed students to the anthropological foundations of tourism, and furthered an interdisciplinary approach to tourism education. The easily adopted Web 2.0 technology was well received by Net Generation students.