I am a practiced educator with both formal and informal STEM teaching experience. I have primarily taught courses in neuroscience programs, but these courses have been listed in multiple departments, including Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics (Virginia Tech) and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Cornell University). I use my research experience to provide examples of application. When I teach, I strive for ways to involve students through hands-on activities, as seen in labs, or active learning strategies such as:
- writing reflections
- strategic pauses for feedback, discussion
- group discussion
- idea mapping
- interactive lecture
- brainstorming
My teaching responsibilities have ranged from assisting in lectures and labs to designing courses and generating course material. In my most recent teaching experience (Virginia Tech), I had dedicated about 30% of my time to teaching and outreach, and 70% to research and administrative duties.
Teaching Goals
From classrooms to the middle of a desert, I am comfortable teaching in any atmosphere, at nearly any level. Having been a student in Title I schools, I am aware of and sensitive to the needs of students from varying backgrounds, especially socioeconomic class, race, and gender. I strive to create a classroom that welcomes all students, and celebrates diversity. We cannot solve the problems of humanity if the diversity of humanity is not represented in classrooms or laboratories.
As a champion of inclusion, I am open to gaining any certification for special needs education that may be required. I am currently working toward my social media management certification, and learning ASL. I strongly believe that use of technology in the classroom is requisite in our modern age. I encourage use of devices in class (computers, tablets, phones), use of social media, and active research of materials while I teach. I aspire to use progressive teaching tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, computer programming and simulations, and robotics kits (such as Makeblock Ultimate Robot, Arduino Robot Kit, and online prototyping tools, like Virtual Robotics Toolkit).
We cannot solve the problems of humanity if the diversity of humanity is not represented in classrooms or laboratories.
Discussing use of virtual reality in neuroscience research to the Black College Initiative at Virginia Tech (grade 12).
Discussing predator-prey interactions with a 6th grade class in Giles County, VA.
The Curious Dr. Z 