August 2017
Scholarly Activity
My research interests are varied around a common theme: Biology Education. My primary areas of research look at how college students learn biology. I focus in on three main ideas: 1.the impact of field research experiences on undergraduate students understanding of the nature of science; 2. Students' conceptions of evolution; and 3. The impact of a student centered college classroom on students' attitudes toward biology and their critical thinking/scientific literacy.
Student Conceptions of Evolution
Biological Evolution is the main organizing theme in the field of Biology. I think Dobzhansky said it best
“Seen in the light of evolution, biology is, perhaps, intellectually the most satisfying and inspiring science. Without that light it becomes a pile of sundry facts -- some of them interesting or curious but making no meaningful picture as a whole.”
― Theodosius Dobzhansky
While biologists recognize evolution as the central theme of biology, it is an area that is replete with misconceptions and erroneous ideas. It is students' ideas about evolution that are of interest to me. What ideas about evolution do students have? What do faculty do with the information about students understanding? How do we use what we know about students understanding of evolution to tailor our instruction?
Field Research and the Nature of Science
The nature of science fields is a construct that many are trying to understand. The importance of undergraduate research is widely known. The impact it has on student retention and level of involvement on college campuses is undeniable. But what about more authentic research? What impact do field research experiences have on students understanding of the nature of science?
Students' Attitudes Toward Science & their Critical Thinking
Misc. Scholarly Activity
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