Tag Archives: teaching

Do you need to name the scientists in intro biology?

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Joan E. Strassmann

Meghan Duffy on the terrific blog Dynamic Ecology asks whether we can’t just teach the concepts and not worry about the researchers. After all, there are so many things we have figured out in biology that really don’t need to … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, The joy of teaching, Undergraduates | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The essential broader impact for all NSF proposals

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Joan E. Strassmann

There is one component of your broader impacts that you should always include. It is crucially important not just for you but for the continuing funding of science. It is essential for the ultimate application of your research to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Grant proposals, Public Communication | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Big ideas from the famous Guarda, Switzerland course in evolutionary biology

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Joan E. Strassmann

Why is it so hard to come up with a big idea and a way to test it? What if you could choose any idea in any system, then plan an experiment unlimited by funds or manpower? What is your … Continue reading →

Posted in Grant proposals, Teaching, Workshops | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t you want to share your slides? Here’s an easy way to do it!

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Joan E. Strassmann

A friend of mine here at Wash U, Liz Dorland, shares all her talks. She works on effective science teaching, so I refer to her talks often. Liz uses Slideshare for this. Since she discovered it, it might be good … Continue reading →

Posted in Helping others, Presentations and seminars, Scientific community, Scientific meetings, Seminars, Talks, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No, you may not use that image without permission and attribution

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

My students are getting ready to teach high school students next Saturday. They will have a short talk, hopefully in story format, and then an activity that illustrates the scientific principle from their talk. These are the same students who … Continue reading →

Posted in behavioral ecology, Ethics, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why does it take so long to choose a short list for an assistant professor position?

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

We received your application and letters of reference close to our target of 15 October. We made all the files immediately available to the faculty on the committee. We have been spending hours and hours reading the files. But why … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Do you give extra credit in your classes? It should stretch your students.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

My students want extra credit projects. But they also worry that if I offer them they become required. What to do? I think extra credit should be available because it takes advantage of a different kind of student energy. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, The joy of teaching | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

The trouble with grading rubrics

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

Most of the advice I read about grading points to the importance of rubrics. Blackboard even lets me put a rubric up on the site. Why is this? What is a rubric? What is the trouble with rubrics? Well, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, The joy of teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Assistant Professor in Evolution at Washington University in St. Louis!

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

We have an open position in evolutionary biology right here at Washington University in St. Louis! I hope you’ll apply! We are very excited about this and hope to welcome an excellent new colleague soon to our wonderful university, department, … Continue reading →

Posted in Department politics, Exploring St. Louis, New assistant professor | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Build curiosity first, then answer questions

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

  First day of class and I meet these wonderful new students, all 54 of them, more actually if you count the hopefuls. If I can’t make behavior seem interesting and wonderful, I have no business teaching. I have a … Continue reading →

Posted in behavioral ecology, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment