About
Teaching Professor at UMBC; leads workshops in evidence-based teaching, motivating students, Team-Based Learning, and other topics; interested in best practices for training students to think quantitatively.
Research interests
I'm interested in seeing an increase in the use of quantitative thinking generally, and mathematical modeling specifically, in undergraduate biology education, particularly in lower-division courses where such methods are rarely employed, and am involved in several projects relating to that. I am also involved in an evaluation of student discourse within teams in the context of Team-Based Learning and other flipped classroom pedagogies, and in the use of collaborative learning in general. For more on research, please see my professional site.
Teaching interests
I teach Human Physiology, Comparative Animal Physiology, physiology lab, Medical Case Studies, and sometimes other courses. Every spring, I teach a seminar in the Honors College. This year’s seminar is an exploration of nature-brain interactions. I'm interested in improving STEM education practices locally, nationally and internationally, and conduct training/workshops on a variety of topics in evidence-based teaching. I'm a certified trainer/consultant in a teaching strategy called "Team-Based Learning" that incorporates a lot of best practices; it's a type of flipped-classroom strategy in which students prepare with basic content knowledge outside of class, and then after assuring that they are truly prepared, they work though increasingly complex application problems, in permanent teams, during class time.
Education
- Postdoc, Reproductive Endocrinology — Harvard Medical School (2002)
- Ph D, Neurobiology and Physiology — Northwestern University (1998)
- BA, Neuroscience — Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio (1993)
Publications
- Issues of Question Equivalence in Online Exam Pools 2023
- Team-Based Learning in STEM and the Health Sciences 2020
- Interactive computer simulations as pedagogical tools in biology labs 2018
- The use of porcine corrosion casts for teaching human anatomy 2017
- Development and Assessment of Modules to Integrate Quantitative Skills in Introductory Biology Courses 2016
- Using Reading Quizzes in STEM Classes--The What, Why, and How 2015
- Effects of Orchidectomy and Testosterone Replacement on GnRH Protein Levels in the male Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum 2009
- GnRH Protein Levels in Atrazine-Treated Axolotls 2008
- Pattern of GnRH release in an ambystomid salamander, the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) 2006
- Heterogeneous Expression of the Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter KCC2 in GnRH Neurons of the Adult Mouse 2003
- Deletion of Exon 6 of the Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Results in Hypogonadism and Infertility in Mice 2002
- Role of Protein Kinase C (PKC) in Facilitation of Luteinizing Hormone (LH)- Releasing Hormone-Induced LH Surges By Neuropeptide Y (NPY) 1999
- Effect of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and NPY Agonists on Lordosis in the Female Guinea Pig 1997
Presentations
- Implementation and Assessment of Quantitative Cell Biology Modules As Part of A Multi-Institutional Collaboration 2023
- Team-Based Learning: Group Work that Works 2021
- How To Write a Good Test 2020
- Team-Based Learning 101 2019
- What Conditions Create A Great Team Discussion? : Discourse Analysis in a TBL Course. 2019
- The Content Monster: How Less Talking Can Mean More Learning 2019
- Evidence-Based Teaching and the Barriers to Change 2016
- Competency Based Education 2016
- Exploring Research in STEM Teaching 2016
- Use of Quantitative Modules in Introductory Biology Courses Improves Quantitative Proficiencies 2016
- Beyond Navel Gazing: The Evidence Base for Employing Reflective and Metacognitive Practices in our Teaching 2016
- Inside Out Physiology: This is Happening Inside You Right Now! 2015
- Use of Quantitative Modules in Introductory Biology Courses Improves Quantitative Prociencies, 2015
- Team-Based Learning in K-12 Education 2015
- Use of Quantitative Modules in Introductory Biology Courses Improves Quantitative Proficiencies 2015
- Use of modeling as a pedagogical tool in an undergraduate biology teaching laboratory 2014
- Positive Outcomes for an Undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology Course Using Team-Based Learning 2014
- The Four-S Experience: Creating Good Applications 2014
- Use of Modeling as a Pedagogical Tool in an Undergraduate Biology Teaching Laboratory 2014
- Team-Based Learning 2013
- Team-Based Learning: A Primer 2013
Grants and Contracts
- Collaborative Research: A Model of Institutional and Community Transformation for Teaching and Learning Quantitative Reasoning in the Biological Sciences (The IUSE Initiative) 2018
- Fulbright Scholar Fellowship 2016
- "Quantitative Reasoning: Measurement & Skills Lab"
- “Modeling as a Pedagogical Tool for the Life Sciences Curriculum”
Courses Taught
- Medical Case Studies
- Human Physiology
- Nutrition And Health
- General Honors Seminar: Biology of Obesity
- Physiology Laboratory
- Comp. Animal Physiology
- Physiology Lab
- Comparative Animal Physiology
- Medical Case Studies
- Human Physiology
- Nutrition And Health