Teaching Philosophy

I’m committed to training the next generation of ecologists and conservation biologists so that they can not only be successful as scientists, but also so they can become advocators for change and committed to social responsibility. By using high-impact practices that give students authentic hands-on experiences, students can become intelligent, independent thinkers that can effectively communicate science both within and outside the scientific fields. To accomplish this, I focus on:

1. Inquiry-driven teaching practices to provide students with real-world experience
2. Effective science communication
3. Active and collaborative learning to provide students opportunities to practice applying concepts using real-world scientific applications

STEM Education Publications

Peer-Reviewed STEM Education Publications

• Bickford N, Peterson EK, Jensen PA, Thomas DA. (2020) Undergraduates who are merely interested in research are better students than their peers. Education Sciences, 10(6): 150. [pdf]
• Peterson EK, Carrico P. (2015) Laboratory exercise in behavioral genetics using team-based learning. Journal of College Biology Teaching, 41(2): 33-40. [pdf]

Editor-Reviewed Book Chapters

• ​Seymour B, Peterson EK, Chock RY. (2021) Conservation behavior: The effects of light pollution on insects. Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field. Eds. Zimbler-DeLorenzo H, Margulis SW, 2nd edition, Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego CA.

Science Publications for the General Public

• Peterson EK. (2013) Using grazing for management of invasive plants: an interview with conservation biologists Dr. Gary Kleppel and Caroline Girard-Cartier, M.S. The Conservation Behaviorist, 11(2): 5-6. 
• Peterson EK. (2013) Hybridization within canine species: the problem and its implications for conservation behavior research. The Conservation Behaviorist, 11(1): 6. 
• Peterson EK. (2012) Orangutans and Palm Oil. The Conservation Behaviorist, 10(2): 5.

Courses Taught

Eastern Illinois University (Instructor of Record)​
Conservation Behavior (future course)
Conservation Biology (lecture)
​Ecotoxicology (future course)
Graduate Seminar (seminar)
Honors Seminar (seminar)
Honors Thesis (research course)
Honors Undergraduate Research (research course)
Human Dimensions (future course)
Independent Study (lecture)
Mammalogy (lecture with lab)
Research in Biological Science (research course)
​Thesis (research course)
Wildlife Management (lecture with lab)
Wildlife Techniques (lecture with lab)

CSU-Pueblo (Instructor of Record)
College Biology I (lecture)
Research (research course)
Special Topics in Research and Experimental Design (lecture) 
Special Topics in Scientific Literacy and Writing (lecture)

SUNY-Albany (Instructor of Record)
Animal Behavior (lecture) 
Animal Behavior (laboratory)
Animal Behavior (lecture with lab)

SUNY-Albany (Teaching Assistant)
Behavioral Genetics (laboratory) 
Introduction to Biological Investigations I (laboratory) 
Introduction to Biological Investigations II (laboratory) 
Neurophysiology (laboratory) 
General Biology I (laboratory) 
General Biology II (laboratory) ​