Professional Development Plan 2007-2009
for
Dr. John Smith, Department of Biological Science
Introduction:
As an integrative biologist, I have been hired to develop,
implement and assess the new inquiry-based core curriculum at SJSU. I will pursue new directions in curricular
development and establish a collaborative research group of undergraduate
students, graduate students, and faculty, investigating teaching pedagogy and
student learning. I will collaborate with
other faculty in these efforts; I expect to work closely with my counterpart in
ecology, Dr. Jones. I will be flexible
in responding to the changing needs of curriculum development and
assessment. I recognize that the
integrative nature of this position leads to a blurring of lines among the
teaching, scholarship, and service areas of evaluation for retention promotion
and tenure. Ideally, every activity I
pursue will contribute to teaching, scholarship, and service, and I will strive
to highlight the integrative nature of this position as I proceed through my
probationary years at SJSU.
Teaching:
I am a broadly trained organismal biologist with expertise
in GIS database development and my teaching responsibilities will include a
combination of major core, major elective, non-major, and graduate courses as
needed by the Department of Biological Science.
I currently serve on two teaching collaborative committees that are
developing the Evolution and Biodiversity core course and Physiological Ecology
core course. I expect that I will teach each
of these core courses as they are implemented.
I may also teach upper division majors elective courses in physiology
and behavior, as needed by the Department of Biological Science; such courses
may include animal behavior, functional morphology, or biomechanics. I also
currently serve on five committees that are devoted to curriculum design,
assessment, and faculty development.
Spring 2007
- Non-majors
course, BIO 092, and a graduate course in teaching effectiveness, BIO 500
Fall 2007/Spring 2008
- Non-majors
course, BIO 091 and a beginning Biology course for majors, BIO 101A. I
will also be responsible for 3 lab sections of the majors course.
- I
will teach the non-majors course, BIO 092 and I will teach a new course in
Physiological Ecology (BIO 191).
Fall 2008/Spring 2009
- Non-majors
course, BIO 091 and a beginning Biology course for majors, BIO 101A. If my
grant application for WWNFF is denied I will also be responsible for 3 lab
sections of the majors course.
- I
will teach the non-majors course, BIO 092 and I will continue to teach a
new course in Physiological Ecology (BIO 191).
I will develop methods to assess how I have met goals of
student learning in my courses. I will share assessment methods I identify or
develop with the other members of the Departmental Assessment Committee and the
Department of Biological Science at large. I will evaluate any supporting
materials I develop through student questionnaires focusing on specific
activities and exercises.
Service:
I will strive to identify new, cutting-edge, teaching and
mentoring opportunities in Biological Science at SJSU. I will engage students in research projects
of both their own and my design. I find
that nothing focuses a problem like being confronted with finding ways to
address it. Research problems stimulate
creativity, cause frustration, and promote learning. My part in mentoring students will be to help
students experience the excitement of discovery through original research.
Spring 2007
- I will serve as co-director of
the NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) program,
which aims to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of
undergraduates in environmental biology. As part of this program I will
coordinate and teach a summer field course for UMEB students
Fall 2007/Spring 2008
- I will serve as co-director of the NSF
Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) program, which
aims to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of undergraduates in
environmental biology. As part of this program I will coordinate and teach
a summer field course for UMEB students.
- I plan to mentor 1-2 undergraduate students as
research assistants in my laboratory
- I will take over the role of advising
undergraduate students in Environmental Biology for the department.
- I will serve as co-director of the NSF
Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) program, which
aims to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of undergraduates in
environmental biology. As part of this program I will coordinate and teach
a summer field course for UMEB students.
- I plan to
mentor 2-4 undergraduate students as research assistants in my laboratory
- I
plan to advise 3 graduate students seeking an MS in Environmental Biology
and become a committee member for no more than 3 graduate students seeking
MS or MA degrees.
- I will continue advising undergraduate students
in Environmental Biology for the department.
Fall 2008/Spring 2009
- I will serve as co-director of
the NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) program,
which aims to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of
undergraduates in environmental biology. As part of this program I will
coordinate and teach a summer field course for UMEB students
- I plan to mentor 2-4 undergraduate
students as research assistants in my laboratory
- I
plan to advise 3 graduate students seeking an MS in Environmental Biology
and become a committee member for no more than 3 graduate students seeking
MS or MA degrees.
- I will continue advising
undergraduate students in Environmental Biology for the department.
- I will serve as co-director of the NSF
Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) program, which
aims to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of undergraduates in
environmental biology. As part of this program I will coordinate and teach
a summer field course for UMEB students
- I plan to
mentor 2-4 undergraduate students as research assistants in my laboratory
- I
plan to advise 3 graduate students seeking an MS in Environmental Biology
and become a committee member for no more than three graduate students
seeking MS or MA degrees.
- I will continue advising undergraduate students
in Environmental Biology for the department.
Scholarly, Artistic
or Professional Achievements:
Spring 2007
- I will
pursue professional development in teaching by attending and presenting at
professional meetings such as Sigma Xi and the education sessions of the
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.
- I will
continue to analyze data I started before arriving at SJSU. My prior research in teaching and
learning has focused on curriculum design, teaching skills training, and
student engagement in learning. I
plan to develop further these research areas and will pursue a research
program focused on two main areas of teaching and learning.
- I will
start the process of writing a grant application for funding research in
teaching offered through WWNFF. My proposed research on student learning
will include, but is not limited to, assessment of content knowledge,
critical thinking and problem solving skills, conceptual understanding,
analysis of technical skills learned, retention of content knowledge,
attitudes toward science, and evaluation of the understanding of the role
of science in society. I will
measure student learning by developing new and adapting current assessment
tools. Assessment tools are likely
to include (1) pre and post-tests of content knowledge, (2) tests designed
to measure analytical skills, (3) and attitude surveys. I plan to follow a sub-group of students
throughout their undergraduate career and after they graduate to measure
long-term changes in knowledge retention and attitudes.
- I will
get my research lab in a functional state so that I can start my research
with GIS database development for identifying potential habitat for
endangered species.
Fall 2007/ Spring 2008
- I plan
to complete two manuscripts from work I started before arriving at SJSU.
- I plan
to submit the grant application for WWNFF.
- I plan
to continue to work with my students on GIS database development.
- I will
try to identify a source of funding to purchase new computer equipment and
software for my lab.
- I
plan to attend education sessions of the Society for Integrative and
Comparative Biology.
Fall 2008/ Spring 2009
- If my
WWNFF grant is funded, I will be developing two new courses.
- I
will try to develop at least 1 manuscript based on the research my
student’s and I have completed in relation to the GIS database project.
- I
plan to submit a grant proposal for obtaining computer equipment and software
for my lab.
- I plan
to attend an international conference on GIS database development which
will be held in Stockholm, Sweden.
- I will
try to submit at least 1 manuscript based on the research from my
laboratory.
Professional, University, and Community Service:
I will serve as an active member of the Society for
Integrative and Comparative Biology, Sigma Xi, and the National Science
Teachers Association. In addition, I
will review manuscripts as requested by editors.