teaching experience
Training
As a member Certificate in College Teaching Program at Duke, I have participated in teaching observation and mutual feedback through the Teaching Triangles Program. I also attended a course in the Fundamentals of College Teaching (GS750) during the fall of 2020, with emphasis on learning objectives, modern pedagogy, and navigating the virtual classroom during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a member Certificate in College Teaching Program at Duke, I have participated in teaching observation and mutual feedback through the Teaching Triangles Program. I also attended a course in the Fundamentals of College Teaching (GS750) during the fall of 2020, with emphasis on learning objectives, modern pedagogy, and navigating the virtual classroom during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maggie was absolutely fantastic. She was well prepared and seemed like she really really cared. She prepped a lot of extra materials and resources for us, and helped communicate our needs.
Courses Taught
I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for four courses, focusing on the use of programming and statistics to analyze ecological and environmental data.
Online Tutorials
Many of my students, in joining the MEM program at Duke, had expressed that they felt unprepared for the steep curve of learning R programming and statistics at the same time. In preparation for teaching ENV710 again in the fall of 2020, I developed an open-source series of introductory modules, allowing students to learn the basics of R at their own pace. Many students have cited my modules as instrumental to their success in a tough course, and two have asked my permission to share my work with other struggling MEM students not taking ENV710.
Guest Lectures
I have prepared a guest lecture for Duke’s spring 2021 Data Expeditions, a program which introduces undergraduate students to real data exploration and analysis. Entitled “Do hurricanes affect bird biodiversity?”, my lecture walks students through the process of obtaining, cleaning, exploring, and presenting large ecological datasets, using hurricane events and eBird citizen science data to explore the titular question.
I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for four courses, focusing on the use of programming and statistics to analyze ecological and environmental data.
- Environmental Change in the Big-Data Era (2021, online) is a first-year undergraduate seminar that introduces students to data sourcing, strengths and limitations, and data interpretation through readings and discussions of scientific literature and data exploration. The course also introduces basic concepts in R software applied to climate change, human impacts, and biodiversity loss.
- Bayesian Inference and Environmental Models (2021, online) introduces graduate students to Bayesian statistical theory and computational techniques through contemporary environmental examples.
- Applied Data Analysis for Environmental and Physical Sciences (2019 in-person, 2020 online) teaches applied statistics and programming in R to Master of Environmental Management (MEM) students, from exploratory data analysis to multilevel and generalized linear modeling, cumulating in a final group project exploring the students’ own data and ecological or environmental questions. My duties included teaching weekly labs and holding four office hours a week to advise students on weekly labs and their final projects. In an effort to adjust the course to the pandemic restrictions of fall 2020, I initiated and authored a series of anonymous surveys to gauge classroom climate and student stress levels during the semester. Several students even reached out to thank me for the surveys and request more. The teaching team was then able to flexibly adjust the course as COVID and election pressures mounted.
- Environmental Decision Analysis (2020, in-person) teaches students how to assess decision-making factors on an industrial or governmental scale, including weather events, financial obligations, environmental regulations, and data limitations. My duties included demonstrating decision analysis packages offered in R, grading exams, and holding two office hours a week to help students work through homework case studies.
Online Tutorials
Many of my students, in joining the MEM program at Duke, had expressed that they felt unprepared for the steep curve of learning R programming and statistics at the same time. In preparation for teaching ENV710 again in the fall of 2020, I developed an open-source series of introductory modules, allowing students to learn the basics of R at their own pace. Many students have cited my modules as instrumental to their success in a tough course, and two have asked my permission to share my work with other struggling MEM students not taking ENV710.
Guest Lectures
I have prepared a guest lecture for Duke’s spring 2021 Data Expeditions, a program which introduces undergraduate students to real data exploration and analysis. Entitled “Do hurricanes affect bird biodiversity?”, my lecture walks students through the process of obtaining, cleaning, exploring, and presenting large ecological datasets, using hurricane events and eBird citizen science data to explore the titular question.
