Danielle Blog

An amazing week

I had the most amazing week! The orchids are going to have to go on hold for another week.

It started off by my getting to teach a lab of students how to extract DNA from their cheek cells so that they can do PCR, kind of like DNA fingerprinting. That was a lot of fun, and went well, I think. We won’t really know for certain until they get their reactions back and run them on gels this coming week. Which, unfortunately, I won’t be there for; I’ll be at a conference in – get this – Key Largo, FL. A conference where I have from 10:30-4:30 free to sunbathe and generally soak in the southern Florida weather.

But back to my week. So, I lectured twice in introductory biology. The first was on DNA technology and the second was on HIV/AIDS. The first one on DNA technology seemed to go well. But I knew it went well when I got the reaction from the usual instructor. He came down from the back of the lecture hall all bright-eyed and smiling and told me it was “just great” and “wonderful”. Wonderful! That was fantastic to hear. It was hard teaching an evening section. The students looked really worn out and not as interested as I was used to. But, in the end, that just made me try harder and get more animated and conversational with them, which was a good thing, I think. I will get more specific feedback when I am back from my conference.

The second one on HIV/AIDS was during the middle of the day and the students definitely looked more awake and interested. I think that more is expected of them in general, and they know to keep on top of the material. Again, I was pretty conversational, although there were parts where I was giving definitions that I was more formal. The feedback I got from the instructor is that during those times, with experience, I will get better at paraphrasing the definitions and not saying them word for word. I am actually a bit torn on this point, because when I was a student, I found it very hard for one set of words to be written or on a screen with the person saying a different set of words. However, this teacher has been teaching for over 20 years, and I trust his judgement.

So, here are a few key points of the HIV/AIDS lecture that were good.

1. I designed this in-class worksheet – handout – for them to do after I had lectured. I had them work in small groups without their notes first, to see what they could remember. Then I had them work with their notes. When we went through the “answers/pathway,” I showed them this animation again that stepped through the pathway. It seemed to go over well. I actually had a student make a point of telling me after class that he really liked the handout activity and thought it reinforced the lecture really well.

2. They applauded for me at the end of class!!! I couldn’t believe it! I’ve heard of professors getting applause, but mainly the ones who teach these really awesome classes that everyone talks about. I’ve never actually been in a course where we applauded. AND the instructor told me that he has Never gotten applause for this introductory bio course. So, I was bowled over and just completely excited. Evidently, the guy who teaches in the evening has never gotten applause either. HEEE!

And if that wasn’t enough, NOW, for the best part!

On Friday around 11:00ish, I got a call from a school where I sent my application for teaching. They are “very interested” in me and wanted to know if I am still interested and can come for an interview! I was so excited, I actually used the word Cool on the phone at one point. oops. As soon as I said it, I wanted to reign it in and stuff it back in my mouth. However, I suppose it also communicated my interest. I will give a research talk for them. Which was a little surprising, since it is a teaching position, and I expected to be asked to teach a session. However, I obviously know my research better than any lesson I could generate (except for this HIV and DNA technology material), so it ought to work out well. I don’t yet know exactly when I will do the day at the school. We have to coordinate our schedules. But it will likely be soon, since they want to get the position filled ASAP. Interestingly, it is a religiously affiliated school. Which is very attractive to me, as you might imagine. I really hope it all works out. I was starting to despair that I would not get a more permanent teaching position and that I would need to adjunct/teach course by course at various schools.

So, I have had an awesome week! And next week, I get to go Florida as part of my work. Incredible, eh?

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

And now, if you read this, please comment. Because I’m starting to think no one reads this anymore and have been getting discouraged. Even if it just to say “Hi, I stopped by”.