Teaching through Curiosity

Dinosaurs and extinct life spark curiosity in students from every background, making paleontology an exciting subject to teach. I teach by encouraging curiosity in my students, whether they are taking an introductory, non-major class or working with me on independent research projects. I encourage exploration by providing opportunities for student choice of topics within a broader framework focused on developing skills like evaluating scientific sources and using data to answer scientific questions.

University of Michigan

  • Two students holding 3D prints of lumbar vertebrae and humeri in front of research posters standing with Anne.

    Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program

    I mentored multiple undergraduate students through the UROP. These students had no prior research experience and worked with me over the course of the year on research projects we developed together. I guided students through the scientific process from literature search and hypothesis building to picking approriate methods and statistical analysis. I have had the pleasure of working with some excellent students through this program, including Itamar Yahav and Carmen Ricker (pictured above).

  • Anne lecturing in front of a projector screen. The screen has ArcGIS Pro opened with a map of Ann Arbor and red points.

    GIS for Earth and Environmental Sciences

    As part of the Michigan Society of Fellows, I taught two semesters of EARTH 408 GIS for Earth and Environmental Sciences. This upper-level class involved a breadth of technical skills taught through two weekly computer lab activities. I worked with previous instructors for this course to adapt the materials to my own teaching style. By working with a team of two teaching assistants, I was able to ensure all students in the class received in-depth assistance for the assignments.

  • University of Michigan Biological Sciences Building. Large glass and terracota building

    LSA Teaching Academy

    I participated in the LSA Teaching Academy through University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, a year long program designed for new instructors. This program included workshops on pedagogy and diversity and inclusion in the classroom and cumulated with a mid-semester evaluation of my GIS course. I was then able to adjust my course based on student suggestions and discussion with a pedagogy expert.

Indiana University

  • Kronosaurus watercolor painting by a student for a final project

    Paleoart Seminar

    I had the wonderful opportunity to design and teach a seminar course for the Collins Living and Learning Community at Indiana University. During the Spring 2021 semester, I taught 10 students from an array of disciplinary backgrounds how paleontologists use evidence from the fossil record to infer how ancient animals lived. Students created their own piece of paleoart for their final project and presented on the research that went into the reconstruction.

  • The Indiana University Arboretum. A carnelian stands over a large park area with a pond, grass, and trees.

    Graduate Teaching Apprenticeship Program

    Throughout my time as an instructor, I have participated in Indiana University's Graduate Teaching Apprenticeship Program (GTAP) to continually improve my pedagogical practice. This involved attending workshops, completing and receiving feedback on my in-class teaching. As part of this program, I co-led a workshop for the 2022 Associate Instructor Orientation: Practical Guidelines for STEM Lab AIs.  

  • Rocks in boxes prepared for a lab section

    Associate Instructor

    I worked as an Associate Instructor at Indiana University for five semesters, primarily teaching the lab sections for Dinosaurs and their Relatives and Earth: Our Habitable Planet. These introductory courses cover a breadth of biological and geological concepts, with hands on lab activities.