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Michigan State biologist to speak on instruction

October 7, 2013
Diane Ebert-May

Diane Ebert-May

NIU’s Department of Biological Sciences, in conjunction with Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning and Secondary Science Teacher Certification, invites faculty members, deans, and department chairs to a talk on “Driving Instruction with Data: Assessment.”

Diane Ebert-May, a professor of plant biology at Michigan State University, will speak from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 7, in the University Suites of the Holmes Student Center.

She will address key processes of developing and implementing learner centered instructional materials, teaching strategies and assessments in both small- and large-enrollment courses.

This seminar will use the approach of scientific teaching to actively engage participants in using instructional methods shown to be effective in helping students learn better than they do in a traditional lecture context.

Ebert-May received her doctorate degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Colorado. She leads FIRST IV, an NSF-funded professional development program to help 200 post-doctoral scholars create and teach their first introductory biology courses. She also is co-editor of “Pathways to Scientific Teaching,” a book based on active learning, inquiry-based instructional strategies, assessment and research.

RSVP to engage@niu.edu by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Deans, department chairs and faculty members with curricular engagement are especially encouraged to attend.

For more information about the event, contact Michaela Holtz at (815) 753-8155 or mholtz@niu.edu.