Teaching Philosophy
I've had the opportunity to be the instructor for an undergraduate study abroad course (Behavioral Ecology of African Mammals, Kenya), serve as teaching assistant for several undergraduate courses at Michigan State University and the University of Zurich, tutor undergraduate students in Statistics, and train many undergraduate researchers as research assistants with the Mara Hyena Project. In all of these capacities, I don't see myself as a 'teacher' but as someone who is there to help students learn in whatever manner they find the most helpful. In the classroom, I've found the students prefer a teaching style that is intermediate to the traditional and flipped classroom approach. Especially during the pandemic, when students are required to study almost entirely independently from the normal structure of an academic environment, a fully flipped classroom simply adds too much independent work outside the classroom. Instead, I've found that live or in-person lectures with frequent quiz or poll questions and ample time for students to ask question in turn allows students to work with the new topics in class and provides the most stimulating environment for learning. Afterwards, students can revisit recorded lectures in combination with their notes and textbook in order to consolidate the material. I use this same method when tutoring Statistics students where first I identify gaps in knowledge, fill in those gaps with short explanations or examples, and then use the Socratic method to help students use and apply their knowledge to answer questions and solve problems. Scientific Outreach & Community Service I am firmly committed to science outreach and promoting diversity in STEM. During my years at MSU I've maintained involvement in several science outreach and community service organizations and events. Most recently, I've been involved in Project Biodiversify, a project that aims to increase the visibility and work of minority researchers while also providing educational tools about important or novel findings in Biology to Biology teachers. I've also participated in 'Queer-Inclusive' Leadership training and Cultural Competency training. |
TEACHING & MENTORING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, BIO387: Blockkurs 'Sociobiology of communication' (Fall 2023)
Teaching Assistant, BIO380: Blockkurs: 'Experimental Field Biology' (Summer 2022)
MSc Student Mentor: Rasekuwane Mosia: 'Collective movement in meerkats: coordination and fitness' (2022-2023)
Teaching Assistant, BIO387: Blockkurs 'Sociobiology of communication' (Fall 2021)
Lecturer, IBIO 415: Ecological Aspects of Behavior, MSU (Fall 2020)
Tutor, Intermediate Statistics, Tutor.com (August 2019 - present)
Lead Instructor, IBIO 490: Behavioral Ecology of African Mammals, MSU (May 2019)
Undergraduate Mentor: UURAF (2019)
Teaching Assistant, IBIO 365: Biology of Mammals, MSU (Spring, 2019)
Teaching Assistant, IBIO 415: Ecological Aspects of Behavior, MSU (Fall 2018)
Co-Instructor, IBIO 490: Behavioral Ecology of African Mammals, MSU (May 2018)
Graduate Mentor to undergraduates in Kenya- NSF International Research Experience for Students (June 2016 – November 2017)
Camp Manager – Mara Hyena Project (June 2016 – November 2017 )
UURAF Poster Evaluator (2015, 2016)
Pathways to Scientific Teaching, PLB 802 (1 credit course Fall 2015)
Undergraduate mentoring Fall 2015 – present
Horse Riding Instructor & Wilderness Guide (summers 2008 – 2012)
SERVICE & OUTREACH ACTIVITES
Scientifica, Zurich (Fall 2023)
Kalahari Research Centre Outreach Talks (2021, 2022, 2023)
Project Biodiversify (Spring 2019 – present)
Biology-on-Tap Speaker (July 2018)
Detroit Zoological Society’s Fellowship in Science Communication (2018)
College of Natural Science Council on Diversity & Community (Spring 2018 – Spring 2019)
Queer Inclusive Leadership (QUILL) Certification (Summer 2017)
EEBB Treasurer (Fall 2015 – Spring 2016)
Graduate Employees Union - Zoology Steward (Spring 2015 to Spring 2016)
MSU Science Festival (April 2015, 2016)
MSU Neuroscience Fair (March 2015, 2016)
MSU Girls Math & Science Day (March 2015)
Darwin Discovery Day (Feb. 2015, 2016)
Teaching Assistant, BIO387: Blockkurs 'Sociobiology of communication' (Fall 2023)
Teaching Assistant, BIO380: Blockkurs: 'Experimental Field Biology' (Summer 2022)
MSc Student Mentor: Rasekuwane Mosia: 'Collective movement in meerkats: coordination and fitness' (2022-2023)
Teaching Assistant, BIO387: Blockkurs 'Sociobiology of communication' (Fall 2021)
Lecturer, IBIO 415: Ecological Aspects of Behavior, MSU (Fall 2020)
Tutor, Intermediate Statistics, Tutor.com (August 2019 - present)
Lead Instructor, IBIO 490: Behavioral Ecology of African Mammals, MSU (May 2019)
Undergraduate Mentor: UURAF (2019)
Teaching Assistant, IBIO 365: Biology of Mammals, MSU (Spring, 2019)
Teaching Assistant, IBIO 415: Ecological Aspects of Behavior, MSU (Fall 2018)
Co-Instructor, IBIO 490: Behavioral Ecology of African Mammals, MSU (May 2018)
Graduate Mentor to undergraduates in Kenya- NSF International Research Experience for Students (June 2016 – November 2017)
Camp Manager – Mara Hyena Project (June 2016 – November 2017 )
UURAF Poster Evaluator (2015, 2016)
Pathways to Scientific Teaching, PLB 802 (1 credit course Fall 2015)
Undergraduate mentoring Fall 2015 – present
Horse Riding Instructor & Wilderness Guide (summers 2008 – 2012)
SERVICE & OUTREACH ACTIVITES
Scientifica, Zurich (Fall 2023)
Kalahari Research Centre Outreach Talks (2021, 2022, 2023)
Project Biodiversify (Spring 2019 – present)
Biology-on-Tap Speaker (July 2018)
Detroit Zoological Society’s Fellowship in Science Communication (2018)
College of Natural Science Council on Diversity & Community (Spring 2018 – Spring 2019)
Queer Inclusive Leadership (QUILL) Certification (Summer 2017)
EEBB Treasurer (Fall 2015 – Spring 2016)
Graduate Employees Union - Zoology Steward (Spring 2015 to Spring 2016)
MSU Science Festival (April 2015, 2016)
MSU Neuroscience Fair (March 2015, 2016)
MSU Girls Math & Science Day (March 2015)
Darwin Discovery Day (Feb. 2015, 2016)