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Trash Extracted from the Skunk River by Biology students.
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Jim ColbertPh.D., University of Wisconsin, 1985
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My background in plant biology is largely in plant anatomy and plant molecular biology. Some selected research publications from my work in these disciplines can be viewed here. Over the course of the past few years my interests have shifted into various aspects of biology education. A Teaching Faculty Fellowship from the ISU Center for Teaching Excellence and a Wakonse Fellowship have provided opportunities for me to learn more about teaching at the university level. I have become very interested in strategies that can be used to engage students in large class settings (PDF available here, Vol 13, No 3, 2001) and in the role of "learning communities" in improving student experiences, and learning of subject matter, during their first year in the university environment. I have had an active role in the biology learning community (BEST), and have developed a service learning activity (The Skunk River Navy) that is focused on providing BEST students with opportunities to interact with local biology in the "real world". In addition, I have become involved in efforts to improve the preparation of pre-service elementary and secondary teachers in plant biology, and coordinate the BETAL Community, a learning community focused on pre-service secondary school biology. I have also been involved in exploring the uses of internet technology, both in augmenting face-to-face courses. A summary of my teaching philosophy is available here. Click here for a look at some of my other interests.
