Teaching Experience & Philosophy

During my tenure at UC Davis I taught an introductory general education 200 level biology lab and created lab+studio curriculum and syllabus for the UC Davis Art-Science Fusion Program for four years. In addition I developed the curriculum for and taught a graduate student seminar class that merged the foundational curiosity of science with the foundational creativity of art to produce collaborative works among peers.

Courses Taught:

Course ID Credits Semester/Year # of Students

ENT 1 3 Spring 2018 31

ENT 1 3 Spring 2017 26

ENT 298 2 Winter 2017 15

ENT 1 3 Spring 2016 29

BIS 2b 4 Fall 2015 35

ENT 1 3 Spring 2015 60

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy employs effective teaching strategies based on empirical evidence from recent social science and education research with the current needs of students and developing technology, such as: AI tools (i.e. ChatGPT, Grammarly and more) and the constant bombardment of information from the internet and social media outlets.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY OUTLINE:

1. Beliefs about Learning

a. Learning as a transformative process

b. Beyond knowledge acquisition to the development of critical thinking and scientific inquiry.

2. Teaching Objectives

a. Overarching Goal

i. Inspiring passion for science and curiosity

b. Specific Goals

i. Cultivating a solid foundation of biological principles.

ii. Fostering critical thinking and creativity

iii. Preparing students for future careers in the sciences.

3. Teaching Methods

a. Active Engagement

i. Incorporating experiential learning

ii. Using case-studies to connect theory with real-world applications

b. Inclusivity

i. Catering to diverse learning styles

AG 100 - UH Hilo - Guest Lecture

Guest Lectured for hour long Ag100 UH Hilo Class taught by Dr. Norman Arancon Fall of 2021. This classes is an introduction to diverse disciplines of agricultural sciences, industry, and contemporary issues in agriculture. Click the image below to see the full presentation.

PEPS 410 - UH Manoa - Guest Lecture

Guest lectured for PEPS 410 at UH Manoa taught by Dr. Koon-Hui Wang during the winter of 2021. PEPS 410 class focuses on Sustainable Soil and Plant Health Management. My lecture detailed results from my silicon research and plants systemic acquired resistance. Click the image below to see the full presentation.

UH-Manoa Dept. of Interdisciplinary Studies - GE Committee

Collaborated with UH Manoa's Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, Dr. Amy Schiffner, to present "Interdisciplinarity" to the UH Manoa GE curriculum design team during Summer 2021. This presentation introduced interdisciplinary concepts and made a case for it's incorporation into a GE curriculum. Click the image below to see the full presentation.

Organized & Taught Graduate Student Seminar. University of California, Davis. “The Relationship among Art, Science and Innovation” Faculty ambassador Diane Ullman

ii. Creating an environment of equal opportunities and accessibility.

c. Technological Integration

i. Use of virtual simulations and online resources.

ii. Blended learning approaches

iii. Utilizing interactive learning platforms and digital tools

4. Assessment and Evaluation

a. Assessment Purpose

i. Beyond evaluating comprehension to encourage critical thinking

b. Assessment Methods

i. Exams, Projects, & Collaborative Assessments

ii. Emphasis on practical skills, experimental design, data analysis and communication.

c. Feedback

i. Constructive feedback by students and colleagues

ii. Student evaluations of Teacher

5. Role of Educator

a, Facilitator of Learning

i. More than a disseminator of information

ii. Creating a supportive and inclusive classroom culture

b. Mentorship

i. Encouraging open dialogue and questions.

ii. Safe environment to explore curiosity and creativity.

iii. Enriching the learning experience through diverse perspectives.

6. Continual Improvement

a. Commitment to Professional Development

i. Actively engaging in scholarly activities.

ii. Attending conferences and staying current with advancements in biology.

iii. Staying current with education research (see linked publications below).

b. Alignment with Evolving Needs

i. Ensuring teaching remains relevant and aligned with the scientific community's needs.

Designed and taught a graduate student seminar spring 2017 at UC Davis. The arts and the sciences share a common foundation on which the pillars of creativity and innovation stand. Our greatest contributions emerge from a state of mind where awareness of time almost disappears, focus sharpens and we are one with what we do. Although this perfect harmony usually feels effortless, the mental state where you produce your greatest results can be elusive. This class explores our current mental habits and patterns using ceramic arts and exercises to gain insight into our perceptions and how to create a mental environment conducive to creating and innovating. Click image below to see a copy of the syllabus for this course.

In this webinar join, Dr Joanna Bloese and Dr Andrea Rassell, in conversation about our science art practices. We will discuss what science art is, and how we approach our different collaborations with artists and scientists. In collaboration with Clubes de Sciencia and Dr. Andrea Rassell, an Art-Scientist out of Australia, we hosted a class on the "Approaches and Collaborations in Science Art". Click the image below to see the full schedule.

Science Cafe - clubes de ciencia - joanna and andrea.jpg

In a second collaboration with Dr. Amy Schiffner, the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at UH Manoa, We presented to the Excellence in Teaching Fellows Program (ETFP) Orientation Workshop in May 2022. This involves a cohort of UHM faculty that were recently selected for a new teaching excellence program. We taught on the subject of interdisciplinarity and it's incorporation into the classroom. Click on the image below for a copy of the presentation.

Interdisciplinarity 2nd presentation.png

UH-Manoa - Excellence in Teaching Fellows Program Workshop

Clubes de Sciencia - "Approaches and Collaborations in Science - Art"

Bezner-Kerr RB, Young SL, Young C, Santoso MV, Magalasi M, Entz M, Lupafya E, Dakishoni L, Morrone V, Wolfe D, Snapp SS. (2022). Farming for change: developing a participatory curriculum on agroecology, nutrition, climate change and social equity in Malawi and Tanzania. InCritical Adult Education in Food Movements 2022 Nov 22 (pp. 29-46). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth,
M. P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and
mathematics. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences, 111(23), 8410-8415.

Hake, R. R. (1998). Interactive-engagement versus traditional methods: A six-thousand-studentsurvey of mechanics test data for introductory physics courses. American journal ofPhysics, 66(1), 64-74.

Kansanga, M.M., R., Bezner-Kerr, E. Lupafya, L., Dakinshoni, I., Luginaah (2021). Does Participatory Farmer-to-Farmer Training Improve Adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices. Land Use Policy (108) 105477.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105477