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Strategies for Success > Utica Workshop
Topics & Speakers for Saturday, October 25,
2003 Mohawk Valley Community College
Active Learning: Is it for Everyone?
Have you ever tried to do something besides lecture in your classroom and
had it fail abysmally? Did you wonder whether it was you or the students?
In this session we will look at some of the factors that play a role in
making a successful transition from an instructor-centered "sage on the
stage" classroom to a student-centered learning environment. We will also
discuss the evidence that supports making the effort to change and present
suggestions for easing the transition for both faculty and students.
• Dr. Dee Silverthorn teaches physiology at the University
of Texas-Austin. She received a B.S. with Honors in Biology from
Tulane University and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University
of South Carolina. Dr. Silverthorn plays an active role in the physiology
teaching community nationally and internationally, and currently
serves as editor of the journal Advances in Physiology Education.
She has won numerous teaching awards, including the American Physiological
Society's Arthur C. Guyton Educator of the Year in 2001.
Sharing Student-Centered Learning Experiences in Chemistry
Many instructors recognize the value of incorporating student-centered
learning activities into their classes. Such activities may include
abbreviated laboratory experiments, hands-on demonstrations, peer instruction,
group projects, and more. The presenter will discuss his positive and negative
experiences with incorporating student-centered learning into his classes, with
a particular emphasis on classroom assessment techniques. He will then moderate
an open forum where participants are encouraged to share their own experiences,
concerns and ideas.
• Dr. John Suchocki received his Ph.D. in Organic
Chemistry in 1987 from Virginia Commonwelth University. After a
two-year post-doc in medicinal chemistry/pharmacology at the Medical
College of Virginia, Dr. Suchocki became a visiting Assistant Professor
of Chemistry at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he began
working with Paul Hewitt on Conceptual Physical Science,
now in it's third edition. Dr. Suchocki transferred and received
tenure at Leeward Community College in Hawaii where his research
efforts turned to chemical education. Concurrent to his writing
and teaching careers, he specializes in producing educational CD-ROM
and DVD multimedia content.
Using Technology to Enliven Introductory Biology
Introductory Biology is particularly well-suited to the incorporation of technology
into lectures and laboratory exercises. Multimedia allows for inclusion of very
current topics, use of animation and video to clarify complicated issues, and
reference to popular culture. In this presentation, a variety of creative ways to use
technology to teach introductory biology will be discussed, including collaborative
projects between professor and students, specific hardware and software solutions to
common teaching goals, and how pop culture can enliven the classroom environment. The
goal of this presentation is to present practical tips on how any teacher can use
technology to improve the teaching and learning environment.
• Dr. Eric J. Simon is an Assistant Professor of Biology
at New England College in Henniker, NH where he teaches introductory
biology, genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology. He received
his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University. Dr. Simon is
a coauthor, along with Neil Campbell and Jane Reece, of the books
Essential Biology, Second Edition and Essential
Biology with Physiology. His research interests focus on
creative uses of technology to improve the teaching and learning
of science.
Exploring the Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project has advanced at a pace that is far too
rapid to chronicle in a textbook, so how can faculty and students
develop an accurate understanding of what can be learned from studying
the human genome? This hands-on workshop will demonstrate how the
Internet can be used as a tool to actively engage students, both
majors and non-majors, to learn about goals, outcomes and implications
of the Human Genome Project. We will explore student friendly sites
that present up-to-date information on genetic technologies, chromosome
maps, recently identified genes, genetic diseases, and ethical,
legal and social aspects of the Human Genome Project. Session
attendance limited to 24.
• Dr. Michael Palladino is an Assistant Professor
of Biology at Monmouth University in New Jersey. He received his
Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the University of Virginia.
His research activities involving undergraduate students include
the cell and molecular biology of male reproductive organs, and
DNA fingerprinting of E. coli for detecting fecal pollution in estuaries.
In 1993, he received the New Investigator Award of the American
Society of Andrology, and he received the 1997-1998 Outstanding
Colleague Award for teaching excellence at Brookdale Community College.
Dr. Palladino is the author of Understanding the Human Genome
Project and the student lab manual for BiologyLabs On-Line.
He is also co-author of the recently-published Introductory
to Biotechnology text by Benjamin Cummings.
Teaching with Themes: Creating the Big Picture
As scientific knowledge expands exponentially with each passing year, the number of
"facts" that we expect students to learn has gotten out of hand. Perhaps it's time to
cut back on the details we tell students and focus instead on major themes and concepts
that are the organizing principles for our disciplines. In this interactive session,
participants will brainstorm to create lists of themes and key concepts for their disciplines.
We will then discuss how to create a course or collection of related courses that use common
themes to link biology, chemistry, physics, math, and other areas of science.
• Dr. Dee Silverthorn teaches physiology at the University of
Texas-Austin. She received a B.S. with Honors in Biology from Tulane
University and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of
South Carolina. Dr. Silverthorn plays an active role in the physiology
teaching community nationally and internationally, and currently
serves as editor of the journal Advances in Physiology Education.
She has won numerous teaching awards, including the American Physiological
Society's Arthur C. Guyton Educator of the Year in 2001.
Exploratory Dissection of the Cat
In order to introduce students in a two-semester anatomy and physiology course sequence to
general mammalian body plan and to prepare them for work with human cadavers, a special
three-hour guided dissection of the cat has been designed. The emphasis of this experience
is on exploration, observation and discovery. The naming and labeling of anatomic structures
is purposely de-emphasized. Working in small groups, participants will complete portions of
the exercise that is performed by students. Session attendance limited to 16.
• Donald Kelly has been an Assistant Professor in the Life Science Department of Mohawk Valley Community College since 2000. Prior to that, he served as an adjunct instructor at MVCC from 1986-2000 and has taught Human Anatomy at MVCC since 1989. A member of HAPS since 2000, Professor Kelly currently serves as a member of the Animal Use Committee. Professor Kelly holds an M.S. from University of Alaska, Fairbanks where he worked as a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game prior to returning to New York.
Chemistry Session
Topic to be announced.
• Presenter TBA
Teaching a Hands-On Lab Course Over the Internet
In response to changing student needs, many institutions have begun
to grant degrees entirely through the completion of internet-based
coursework. Altough the idea has been well-received by students,
a stumbling blook in obtaining a degree in most colleges is the
requirement that at least one lab science course be completed upon
graduation. Very few lab science courses are taught online today,
and the few that do exist do not allow the students to acquire basic
skills and techniques learned in the on-campus setting. In response
to this situation, an online general biology course taught with
an accompanying hands-on laboratory component has been developed.
In this session, you will participate as a "student" and see how
innovative techniques convey the hands-on learning environment of
the on-campus classroom over the internet. Session attendance
limited to 24.
• Jennifer Herzog is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Herkimer County Community College in Upstate New York. She received her M.S. and M.Phil degrees at the Yale Univeristy School of Medicine, where she studied the pathogenesis of Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV). Along with her continued research in microbiology, Professor Herzog has become interested in developing novel teaching strategies for science education. She is currently involved with programs aimed toward student retention in the sciences and her venture into online teaching has afforded her the opportunity to develop many innovative ways to convey biological concepts and techniques online.
Collaborating for Change: Strategies for Success
Anatomy and Physiology faculty have been changing the character of their classrooms to provide
students with active learning experiences. For many this active learning environment employs
group learning and team problem learning. Investigating how students engage with their peers in
learning has revealed that students do not necessarily know how to work effectively in groups.
Incorporating group and peer evaluation with the learning experience can assist students in
discovering productive strategies for peer group learning and criteria for reviewing peer
contribution to this learning dynamic. Participants will have the opportunity to experience
this collaborative learning environment and they will receive materials that they can use and
modify.
• Dr. Whitney M. Schlegel is Assistant Professor of Cellular and Integrative Physiology and Director of Undergraduate Curriculum in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Program at Indiana University Bloomington. Her research in the field of environmental physiology focuses on thermal environment and animal thermoregulatory responses to diverse and dynamic environments. Dr. Schlegel is a 2003-2004 Carnegie Scholar studying collaborative student learning and how undergraduate students learn in teams.
General Models for Histology
Histology can be a challenging subject for undergraduates, especially when presented as a small
portion of a large A&P course. We will explore a number of unifying themes or models that can
help students to recognize recurring patterns in histological "facts", build frameworks for
organizing content, and use visual (microscopic) images to reinforce understanding. Participants
will use a discovery approach for identifying models and will have the opportunity to practice
applying them to specific course content. We will also explore ways of presenting the models to
students, depending on whether the goal of the instructor is to help students master structure
identification, or to illuminate functional characteristics of specific cells and tissues.
• Dr. Nina Zanetti is Assistant Professor of Biology at Siena
College in Loudonville, NY. She recieved a Ph.D. in Biology from
Syracuse University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Developmental
Biology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Zanetti teaches a variety
of undergraduate courses including Histology, Developmental Biology,
Human Anatomy and Physiology, Scientic Writing, Pathobiology, and
General Biology. Her research interests include development of the
embryonic limb and skeletal tissue differentiation.
Exploration of the Human Cadaver
This exercise is the intial exposure of our A&P students to work
with human cadavers. It is designed to familiarize them with human
specimens to allow them to utilize an array of anatomical landmarks.
Emphasis is on relating external landmarks to internal structures
and on making careful systematic observations of human structure.
Working in small groups and using human cadavers, participants will
complete portions of this exercise. Session attendance limited
to 12.
• William Perrotti is a Professor in the Life Science Department at Mohawk Valley Community College teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology courses since 1987. Prior to that, he was the Coordinator of the Respiratory Therapy Program at MVCC. Professor Perrotti holds a M.S. degree in Biology from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. A member of Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) since 1991, he has served on numerous committees and as Northeast Regional Director and is President Emeritus. He chaired the Animal Use Committee when it crafted the society's original official position statement supporting dissection and animal use. Professor Perrotti has presented at various national and regional conferences on dissection, active learning approaches in lab, exercise physiology, and the interpretation of acid-base data.
Online Course Management with Course Compass; My A&P
As advances in Internet technology are helping instructors teach
online science courses more effectively, the variety of options
for online course management can be overwhelming. The session will
demonstrate a variety of popular course management options and highlight
Benjamin Cummings customizable content, including lecture outlines,
chapter-specific test and quiz questions, interactive exercises,
case studies, web-based research activities, and more. Session
attendance limited to 24.
• Kevin O'Brien is a Technology Specialist for Benjamin Cummings.
Hands-On BiologyLabs On-Line
This session will provide faculty an opportunity to use web-based
simulations that are designed to involve students in the scientific
process. Although the labs are designed for general biology students,
they are appropriate for many upper division courses as well. In
addition to actually running the labs, participants will be given
sample assignments for the use of the labs with their students.
Session attendance limited to 24.
• Dr. Michael Palladino is an Assistant Professor of Biology at
Monmouth University in New Jersey. He received his Ph.D. in Anatomy
and Cell Biology from the University of Virginia. His research activities
involving undergraduate students include the cell and molecular
biology of male reproductive organs, and DNA fingerprinting of E.
coli for detecting fecal pollution in estuaries. In 1993, he received
the New Investigator Award of the American Society of Andrology,
and he received the 1997-1998 Outstanding Colleague Award for teaching
excellence at Brookdale Community College. Dr. Palladino is the
author of Understanding the Human Genome Project and
the student lab manual for BiologyLabs On-Line. He is also
co-author of the recently-published Introductory to Biotechnology
text by Benjamin Cummings.
Electromyography (EMG)
Using adhesive skin sensors and an ADInstruments data acquisition
system, the activity of the triceps brachii and biceps brachii are
monitored and recorded during a variety of simple maneuvers. Participants
are expected to make predictions about the activity of the biceps
and triceps during these maneuvers and then verify or refute these
predictions using electromyography. This exercise clarifies the
opposing nature of skeletal muscle, the role of gravity in skeletal
muscle activity, the difference between isometric and isotonic contractions,
and the difference between concentric and eccentric isotonic contractions.
Session attendance limited to 16.
• Salvatore Drogo has taught A&P for over 30 years.
He recieved his B.S. from Le Moyne College in Syraucse, NY and holds
masters degrees from the State University of New York College of
Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University. He is
the coauthor of five instructional videos and two anatomy and physiology
laboratory textbooks. Professor Drogo has presented on laboratory
methods in human anatomy and physiology at the annual meetings of
the National Association of Biology Teachers and HAPS.
Exploration of the Musculature of the Human Torso
Using prosected human cadavers, students in A&P try to deduce
the movements caused by selected trunk muscles of the human. Among
the areas of special emphasis are the muscles that move the scapula
and the muscles that cause rotation of the humerus. Working in small
groups with prosected cadavers, participants will complete selected
portions of this exercise. Session attendance limited to 12.
• Donald Kelly has been an Assistant Professor in the
Life Science Department of Mohawk Valley Community College since
2000. Prior to that, he served as an adjunct instructor at MVCC
from 1986-2000 and has taught Human Anatomy at MVCC since 1989.
A member of HAPS since 2000, Professor Kelly currently serves as
a member of the Animal Use Committee. Professor Kelly holds an M.S.
from University of Alaska, Fairbanks where he worked as a biologist
with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game prior to returning to
New York.
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