As an instructor, it is my responsibility to not only teach the foundational knowledge of the discipline, but to help students develop as learners. I challenge students to apply what they are learning both in class with guided questions but also out of class with homework assignments. Another goal is engagement. I want my students to move beyond the surface level of what is being taught and think about how it is applicable in their day to day and how they can incorporate the skills they are learning into practical decision making. I challenge them to be aware, make observations, pay attention to current events, and think. I feel that interpersonal interactions both between students as well as between students and myself play a big role in student success and I try hard to promote communication and foster a sense of belonging in the classroom. My primary teaching responsibilities include Introductory Biology and Genetics. I also teach courses in Cell Function and Differentiation and a Cell Biology course for engineers
Courses
Principles of Biology: The first semester introductory course covers the basics of cell biology, genetics and evolution. This is a multi-section course taught by up to 6 different instructors. We all follow the same format and lesson plan, incorporating an active learning approach to help students build understanding of concepts while developing skills in critical thinking, data analysis and problem solving. I do my best to foster a welcoming environment and promote respect amongst all participants (myself included). In each lesson, I incorporate current research to provide students context for what is possible in biology as well as to highlight the diversity of people engaged in science. "Dr. Watkinson, I was a student in your BIOL 1105 course in the fall of 2020. I really enjoyed having you as a professor. As a freshman, I was very nervous about taking college level courses and the adjustment to an advanced curriculum. Your teaching style made that transition a lot easier! I learned so much from that class, not only in course material but also on how to be a better student. I purposely arranged my sophomore year schedule so that I could take genetics with you in the spring as well. Thank you for everything that you do!" Student testimonial
Genetics:This second year introductory course is designed to provide foundational knowledge in the field of genetics. My goals for this course are to help students really probe the link between genotype and phenotype. In particular, I want students to understand that nucleic acids encode various forms of information beyond protein encoding genes. I also want them to understand how this different information contributes to the phenotype. I use in class questions to challenge students' understanding but also to provide guidance in how to solve such problems. I also emphasize current research in different topics to show the relevance of genetic research to biology and to highlight the diversity of people engaged in genetic research.