As an educator, my goal is to help students understand what biologists think we know and how we reached those conclusions. To do this, I use a variety of methods informed by how humans learn. These methods include inquiry-based learning to help students think critically, engage in the material, and learn how to solve problems from first principles. My main objective is to give students learning tools that can be applied no matter what field they ultimately choose.
Teaching Portfolio
Teaching statement
Curriculum Development
Bioinformatics course (Instructor of record)
Course description: Bioinformatics is the application of computer science to biology and medicine. The magnitude of biological data, at all levels from environmental to genomic, is growing exponentially. For example, in 2001 the first draft of the human genome was completed; five years from now there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of human genomes publically available (not to mention thousands of bacterial, fungal, animal, viral and plant genomes). Current and future biologists now require skills once only used by computer scientists to make sense of these vast amounts of data.
Quantitative Genetics Lab
Genetics Syllabus
- Generic (in-progress) syllabus for a genetics course with lab
Pedagogy scholarship
Wright, R.L., Charlson, A., and Olson, C.F. 2005 Review of: A 15-Year Study of 63 Teachers at 24 Institutions Reveals: “What the Best College Teachers Do”. Cell Biology Education. 4: 279-280 link
Pedagogy training
Duke University Certificate in College Teaching
Olson-Manning Lab 