I'm very much a traditional teacher. I believe we have known how to teach effectively for more than two millennia, and little has come along in the interim that much improves things. I use the blackboard a lot, even though my chalkmanship and artistic skills are atrocious. I'm not a showman in the classroom, nor do I pretend to be. I prefer to engage minds, not to distract or entertain them. I prefer my classes to be conversations about biology, so I ask lots of questions and expect lots of questions in return. I prefer to treat students as adults who can be trusted to take responsibility for their own education, not as children whose education I must be responsible for. I think education is about wisdom and knowledge rather than grades or performance on tests. I hate giving examinations and grades, but if I must give them, they should be rigorous, demanding and will honestly reflect what's been learned.
EFB 462/662 Animal Physiology: Environmental and Ecological (3 credit hours). Three hours of lecture, discussion, and/or exercises. An introduction into the physiology of adaptation to the physical and biotic environments, including animal energetics, biology of body size, and physiological constraints on animal life history. Fall.
EFB 500 Deserts of Southern Africa (5 credit hours). A three week field excursion exploring the various desert biomes of southern Africa (Namibia and South Africa). Offered as demand warrants: Winter break (December-January).
topSpring 2007
Advanced Animal Physiology
EFB 496. Advanced Animal Physiology. Section 04. Ref # 40936. 2 credits
EFB 796 Advanced Animal Physiology. Section 09. Ref # 40937. 2 credits
MWF 10:35-11:30. 135 Baker Labs
Class meetings will commence on 26 February 2007
This class is intended as an extension of EFB 462/662 Animal Physiology: Environmental & Ecological. It is being offered because of an expressed desire by many physiology students in the past for another course on the subject. Students who have not taken EFB 462/662 will still be able to take this course. Its subject matter will encompass primarily endocrine, sensory and nervous system physiology, but other topics may also be covered.
For further information, please contact Dr Turner.
Courses
ESF Global Campus in Africa, 2006
Symbiosis, 2001-2003
Animal Physiology: Organismal, 1997-1999.
Environmental Physiology, 1992-1994.
Animal Physiological Ecology, 1992-1996.
Functional Design of Organisms, 1997-1999.
Herpetology, 1994.
Animal Physiology Laboratory, 1997-1999.
Principles of Zoology, 1991-1996.
Animal Physiology, 1992-1996.
Seminars:
Seminar on “The Problem of Biological Design”, 2004-2005.
Seminar on “Do you believe in Gaia?”, 1999-2000.
Seminar on “Environmentalism and Freedom”, 1995.
Biology Freshman Seminar, 1993-1996.
Seminar on “Physiological Ecology of Climate Change”, 1991.