Teaching Philosophy and Experience

Texas Tech University, 2000-present

Fall 2008:

• Community Ecology (BIOL 4310 / 5310) - taught in Fall of even-numbered years

Previous semesters:

• Metapopulation Biology (BIOL 6301) - taught intermittently
• Landscape Ecology (BIOL 4330 / 5330) - taught in Fall of odd-numbered years
• Principles of Ecology (BIOL 3309 / 5309) - taught every semester; I teach it intermittently
• Advanced Topics: Ornithological Curation (BIOL 6301) - taught intermittently
• Ornithology (ZOOL 4408 / 5408)  - taught every Spring; I teach it in Spring of odd-numbered years
• Special Topics: Ecology of Arid and Semi-arid Lands (BIOL 4301 / 6301) - taught intermittently

Arizona State University, 1998-2000

• Fundamentals of Ecology
• Seminar in Entomology
• Urban Ecological Systems

Colorado State University, 1993-1997

• Biology of Organisms
• Cell Biology
• Principles of Animal Biology

• Community and Ecosystem Ecology

I received Teaching Fellowships for meritorious service in 1995 and 1996. I was one of only two graduate teaching assistants to receive Colorado State University's 1997-1998 Dissertation Fellowship, the university's highest honor for teaching excellence.

University of Georgia, 1991-1993

• Ecological Concepts
• Human Anatomy
• Medical Anatomy
• Ornithology

I received a university-wide Graduate Teaching Assistant Merit Supplement for meritorious service in 1992.

Teaching philosophy

Science deals with asking questions and developing means to answer those questions. As an educator as well as a scientist, I have recognized that the scientific pursuit of asking and answering questions is the same fundamental occupation of higher education. My main interest as a teacher is in developing students' enthusiasm to ask and answer questions. Encouraging active participation in learning is a key component in developing this ability to ask questions, develop ways of answering questions, and critique the answers received. This ability serves all students, regardless of their careers or goals, because it teaches them how to be critical thinkers. A person who has been taught how knowledge itself is gained has been taught a valuable skill indeed.

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

"In the end, we conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." (poet Baba Diuom)