Instructional Assistant Professor Texas A&M University College Station, Texas
Entomology courses serve as a science credit in a variety of curricula across higher education institutions in North America. These courses can not only touch on how insects are effective models for scientific research and biological processes, but also on how insects have influenced art, culture, history, society, policy, and more. Ashleigh will discuss how she uses insects in her non-entomology major’s courses with an emphasis on experiential learning in and out of the classroom. She will highlight the transferable skills that students gain through experiential, insect-themed projects where students create final products based on their exploration of entomology through their own interests, cultures, history, and career/discipline related goals. Ashleigh will share resources for the implementation of such projects, including scaffolded frameworks and tips for communicating project expectations. She will also share how she has modified assessments to remove barriers to learning, improving accessibility and making an entomology course to be inclusive for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
