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Teaching Program

Teaching Philosophy

Many students who register for my undergraduate entomology courses do so out of necessity. For some the class is a requirement, whereas for others it offers a science credit.  Many of these students feel that insects are not as important as other groups of life forms, such as birds, reptiles, and mammals.  And therein lies the challenge that drives me as a teacher of entomology – how to open students’ minds and change some biases they may have about creatures many fear or consider repugnant. 

My approach to education and many of the key teaching tenets that I strive to incorporate into my classroom can be found in Edward Sheffield’s book, Teaching in the Universities – No One Way.  For example, I endeavor to make the study of insects relevant to the students.  An underlying theme of each topic in class is the world’s complete ecological dependence upon insects.  If I am successful, the students will leave my classes with a greater appreciation for the world of insects and will no longer ask the question, “What good are bugs?”

Descriptions of Formal Courses Taught

Introductory Entomology (Pltsci./Biosci. 3710) – 3.0 credit hours

Course Description.  In adaptive diversity and number of species, insects are among the most successful of all organisms on the earth.  The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the world of insects so that they can gain a better appreciation of the role insects play in the scheme of life.  Some of the specific areas of insect biology and ecology that are covered during the course are: 1) structure, function and development; 2) diversity; 3) communication and behavior; 4) relationships of insects to plants and animals; and 5) beneficial and harmful insects. (3710 course syllabus).

Insect Diversity (Pltsci./Biosci. 3715) – 2.0 credit hours

Course Description. The main objective of this laboratory-based course is for the students to gain an appreciation of the morphological and ecological diversity of insects. Specifically, they learn to become familiar with external insect morphology, learn to classify insects into major taxonomic groups, observe insects in nature, and they prepare an insect collection. (3715 course syllabus).

Insect Behavior (Pltsci. 8720) – 3.0 credit hours

Course Description.Contemporary insect behavior is a multidisciplinary approach about how and why insects do the things they do, and the biological significance of their behavior in the context of nature. The main objective of this graduate-level course is to introduce students to the breadth of behaviors found in insects (including laboratory exercises).  Understanding the concepts of insect behavior is just as vital to the understanding of the success of insects as is the understanding of their physical structure. (8720 course syllabus).