Jennifer Henke
B.S. in Biological
Sciences. University of Alabama. 2001
M.S. in Entomology.
University of Georgia. In progress.
Research Interests: Sampling efficacy of macroninvertebrates and length-mass
relationships of macroinvertebrates in wetlands.
Teaching Philosophy
“The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.” ~John Lubbock
If only my students had the desire to learn before they crossed my threshold. However, students have a variety of reasons for taking introductory biology and entomology courses: it fits his schedule, it fulfills her requisite classes, or he thought it would be an easy course. Because the language of biology requires the knowledge of technical terms in order to be able to communicate with other scientists, rote learning is necessary in the introductory courses. This often means that students find the courses difficult or boring. My goal as teacher is to show students not only the importance of what we are learning in class but also to invoke enthusiasm in them regarding the subjects. Through a combination of personal examples and analogies, I am able to take complex scientific ideas and make them comprehensible concepts.
I believe that learning is best done in an environment where students are unafraid to try. I have often come across students who believe that getting a question wrong in front of their peers will only promote ridicule from them and the instructor. In my classes, effort is praised as much as correct answers are. I ask questions at the beginning of my lecture to review the previous week's material so that we can tie it into the day's lesson. I feel that not only does this help the students to remember what we have been learning, but it also gives them and me a chance to get ready for the lab and clear our minds of whatever else has been going on that day.
I encourage my students to work together. Labs often force students to work together by sharing specimens or completing projects together. Because students work at their own pace, questions can come from many students at once. By encouraging students to get to know each other and to ask questions of each other, they receive other interpretations of the material than mine or the primary instructor. Often I am able to learn something new from my students in this way.
Teaching is a rewarding occupation. Every class I feel that I learn something new about my subject, my students, or myself. To have the opportunity to work with others on subjects that I love is a true joy. I know that I would not be in my current field of study without some amazing teachers in my life; I hope that someone in the future will be able to say the same about me.
