Teaching
My approach to teaching centers around three main goals: First, I emphasize the value of a comparative approach in understanding the evolution of behavior -- which is especially true when it comes to understanding human behavior. In this way, I not only teach what we know, but why this matters to the student. Second, I want my students to understand what good science is, and to be critical of what they hear and read. To do so, I provide an understanding of the scientific method: demonstrating how scientists know what they know. Finally, I believe that one of the most important things you can learn while in college, regardless of your field or ultimate career goals, is how to write and how to express yourself. One of the best ways to learn to do so is by engaging with a topic you find compelling, which is why I integrate writing instruction and writing assignments, from low-stakes, in-class writing to scaffolding larger term papers, into my courses.
I am prepared to teach Animal Behavior, Evolution, Introduction to Biological Anthropology, Primate Behavior and Cognition, Human Behavioral Ecology, Social Networks and Anthropology, Writing and Academic Inquiry, and Human Growth and Development.
I am prepared to teach Animal Behavior, Evolution, Introduction to Biological Anthropology, Primate Behavior and Cognition, Human Behavioral Ecology, Social Networks and Anthropology, Writing and Academic Inquiry, and Human Growth and Development.
Recent Courses
NSC 495: Capstone in Human Biology
NSC 495 is the senior capstone and Tier II writing course for majors in Human Biology. In this course, we will draw from multiple sources to discuss relevant topics in human biology. You will integrate the knowledge you have gained from all of your past coursework in your Human Biology major (and beyond) to gain a deeper understanding of the discipline.
Your training to date has likely emphasized that science is a process, grounded in the Scientific Method. Writing is also a process, and good writing is something we all work to develop. Writing – and especially scientific writing – is also a social process, one that incorporates multiple viewpoints and allows people to engage with one another. Therefore, a major goal of this course is to develop your communication skills across a spectrum of modalities, from formal scientific writing to informal conversations. A second major goal is for you to develop your interpersonal and teamwork skills through peer review, small group presentations, and team projects.
Learning Goals
By the end of NSC 495, successful students will be able to:
NSC 495 is the senior capstone and Tier II writing course for majors in Human Biology. In this course, we will draw from multiple sources to discuss relevant topics in human biology. You will integrate the knowledge you have gained from all of your past coursework in your Human Biology major (and beyond) to gain a deeper understanding of the discipline.
Your training to date has likely emphasized that science is a process, grounded in the Scientific Method. Writing is also a process, and good writing is something we all work to develop. Writing – and especially scientific writing – is also a social process, one that incorporates multiple viewpoints and allows people to engage with one another. Therefore, a major goal of this course is to develop your communication skills across a spectrum of modalities, from formal scientific writing to informal conversations. A second major goal is for you to develop your interpersonal and teamwork skills through peer review, small group presentations, and team projects.
Learning Goals
By the end of NSC 495, successful students will be able to:
- Describe and incorporate new strategies into their personal writing process (including multiple drafts, feedback, and revising).
- Critically read and engage with a range of texts (scholarly, popular, and journalistic writing) on topics related to human biology.
- Articulate a position and write a strong, coherent argument, using evidence that is properly integrated and attributed.
- Identify the importance of academic integrity to all stakeholders in the scientific community.
- Develop writing as a rhetorical interaction that is situated within a social context.
- Work collaboratively as a team.
ANTHRBIO 297: Friends in High Places: Friendships and social networks in primate behavior
In today’s digital age, many people have heard of social networks (e.g., the Facebook movie, “The Social Network”). They have probably even thought about their own networks: identifying close friends, peers, and family members, and how they all fit together. This is social network analysis: the study of how interactions between individuals shape both the social environment and individual behavior. Here, we will study how sociality shapes behavior in animals and non-human primates. Each week will feature a general theme, such as the evolution of cooperation, the dynamics of sexual selection and reproductive strategies, or the importance of social ties. We will also explore ‘hot topics’ in animal social network analysis, such as the study of group movement and leadership, animal communication, and disease transmission.
In today’s digital age, many people have heard of social networks (e.g., the Facebook movie, “The Social Network”). They have probably even thought about their own networks: identifying close friends, peers, and family members, and how they all fit together. This is social network analysis: the study of how interactions between individuals shape both the social environment and individual behavior. Here, we will study how sociality shapes behavior in animals and non-human primates. Each week will feature a general theme, such as the evolution of cooperation, the dynamics of sexual selection and reproductive strategies, or the importance of social ties. We will also explore ‘hot topics’ in animal social network analysis, such as the study of group movement and leadership, animal communication, and disease transmission.