Gregory Whitaker

Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year

• BIOL 2251

  Anatomy and Physiology I

• BIOL 2252

  Anatomy and Physiology II

• BIOL 1101

  Fundamentals of Biology

• BIOL 1101L

  Fundamentals of Biology Lab

Teaching Interests

My goal is to provide quality instruction in scientific topics, and I have experience in both human physiology and microbiology. I believe that at least a cursory understanding of the physical world is a practical necessity even for nonscientists. A person who understands nutrition is less likely to fall victim to supplement scams. Someone who understands the cardiovascular system is probably more inclined to take an occasional walk.
Undergraduates in my classes are treated as if they are capable of learning difficult technical concepts. Many of my students are not majors in biology. Even so, I don’t shortchange them on some of the specifics of the biological pathways we cover. Insufficient attention to detail leads to confusion later on.
I also increasingly see a role for myself in assisting students in not being a wallflower. I encourage students to speak up in class and to ask and answer questions. There are rarely times when I will not stop and answer a question, perhaps too thoroughly. The default behavior for about 90% of students is to sit and not say anything at all, and I’m doing what I can to change that. The ability to effectively communicate in a professional setting, despite the pressure, is as valuable as anything else they learn in the course.