There are many online tools that can be used to support student learning, and this has become one of my new favorites. I use the online quiz platform Kahoot to host collaborative exam review sessions. In the past, I created elaborate “Jeopardy”-style review games using PowerPoint, but I find Kahoot Read more
In the fall semester of 2015, I began teaching Restoration Ecology at Sonoma State University (SSU). In that semester, students focused on envisioning sustainable goals for Copeland Creek, its inhabitants, and its surrounding environs. In future semesters, we built upon this work, and were hosted on many fascinating field trips Read more
The global science platform iNaturalist recently started an Ambassador Program, and I’m pleased to announce that, as of September 2025, I’ve been accepted as part of their first cohort of ambassadors. iNaturalist is a community science platform where users can record and share observations of plants, fungi, and animals to Read more
I had a super fun time today doing something old, and something new! For the first time, I took some of my College of Marin students on an actual off-campus field trip, and we went to a place I have visited countless times before: Sonoma State’s Fairfield Osborn Preserve. I offered this optional weekend trip to my Introduction to Biology students for extra credit, and it was a fantastic day!
(more…)Note: Inspired by the birds who have been visiting the feeders I’ve put up outside of my office window in the Science, Math, and Nursing Building at the main campus of the College of Marin, I thought I’d blog about my sightings. I’ll be making posts about sightings at both Read more
Morning: After I put out some peanuts, the American Crows came through, mostly one at a time, to grab them. However, I also had a much larger visitor: this time the larger bird was definitely a Northern Raven! Such a different facial profile when seen from close up. YAY! The Read more
Exciting day! More birds have discovered the feeders. In addition to my friends the crows and juncos, I saw a couple of finches – female House Finches, I think – that were actually ON the feeder! YAY! They flew away as soon as they saw me come into the office, Read more
A new bird outside the window today . . . a Mourning Dove was perched on the rail when I arrived on campus today. It didn’t seem interested in the food, but was certainly a welcome guest.
Crows, crows, crows. It’s fun to watch them try and fit multiple peanuts in their beaks at the same time. I’ve been putting a few peanuts right beneath my window, as well, and the crows are clearly hesitant. They’ll come to sit on the railing near the window and take Read more
