This online course introduces students to a variety of approaches in biodiversity research and conservation. Conservation Biology Syllabus
In this course, students learn about the diversity of fungi and fungal-like organisms and they learn about the importance of fungi in natural ecosystems, agriculture, medicine, history and art.MMS Syllabus
In this course, volunteers interested in projects that improve natural ecosystems in D.C. attended classes on the local natural history. I taught sessions on woody plants, herbaceous plants, urban ecology, and fungi.
This online course was an introduction to ecology that included data analysis and online disucussions of pressing issues in ecology in our society in our society, including human impacts on aquatic and terrestrial systems, population dynamics, interactions in ecological communities, and biogeochemical cycling.Ecological Principles and Methods Syllabus
This online course was an introduction to natural resources which involved online disucussions of key natural resource issues in our society, including land, water, air, and soil resources, biodiversity, food systems and energy production. Natural Resources Syllabus
This course was an introduction to ecology, including evolution, population dynamics, communities, ecosystem ecology. It also included urban ecology, land management, climate change and environmental justice. It was a quantitative, writing-intensive course in which students designed and conducted research projects and create engaging communication tools.Ecology and Field Biology Syllabus
I co-taught this course, which involved discussion of environmental topics including environmental history, risk analysis, population growth, waste management, natural resource management, energy and urban planning.
This course focused on the ecophysiology of fungi including their role in the processes of decomposition, pathogenicity, and plant nutrient acquisition. We included topics in fungal systematics, life history, resource use, and community structure in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems.Fungi in Ecosystems Syllabus
This course introduced students to the common trees, shrubs and vines of New Jersey. We covered plant evolution, structure and physiology as well as the role of plants in global and local processes including biogeochemical cycles, forestry and agriculture.Woody Plants Syllabus
In this course we studied the evolution, classification, and human uses of vascular plants As a teaching assistant, I helped undergraduate and graduate students in collecting and identifying NJ plants from New Brunswick habitats including roadsides, agricultural areas, streams, young forests and seasonal wetlands. Plant Systematics Syllabus
Struwe, L., Poster, L.S., Howe, N., Sweeney, P.W., and Zambell, C.B., 2014. The Making of a Student-Driven Online Campus Flora: an example from Rutgers University. Plant Science Bulletin, 60(3): 159-169.
Plant Ecology was the study of plant life histories, populations, communities, and plant-animal interactions (pollination, dispersal, herbivory). The evolutionary basis for plant ecological traits was an underlying themes of the course. The course involves weekly field trips to representative habitats in the state and on these trips we study geological, hydrological, biological and historical influences that shape the plant communities present. Students also learn to identify over 100 common NJ plants in: pine-oak forests, cedar swamps, coastal salt marshes, floodplain forests, coastal dunes, old field successional habitats, and brownfields. Plant Ecology Syllabus
The General Biology course at Rutgers covered fundamental topics in biology including biological molecules, cell biology, photosynthesis, evolution including DNA structure and function; the diversity of life, animal physiology including nervous, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems. As a teaching assistant, I guided students in lab activities to encourage critical thinking, problem solving skills, and knowledge of data analysis techniques.
In this course, high school students became familiar with principles of chemistry and scientific inquiry through experimentation. Students investigated atomic theory, chemical bonding, periodicity, kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base behavior and oxidation reduction reactions by direct lab experience. I also assisted in coordinating a schoolwide innovative German-Jordanian program on renewable energy.
The course explored fundamental topics in physics as they applied to the Big Bang and the origin of elements, stars, the solar system, Earth, continents and oceans.
As a field teacher, I taught field lessons in wetland ecology, forest ecology, wildlife ecology, winter ecology, living history, team building, orienteering, and wilderness skills for groups of 6-15 students from 3rd-9th grade.