The field of Biology is an incredibly rewarding and especially important one. The skills and abilities that are needed, and those that are taught, have to address a wide variety of criteria in order to fully compliment the career choices that may one day arise. Specifically, the abilities necessary for becoming an instructor in the field of Biology require many years of dedication, and will constitute a life-long and continual process of learning, and of understanding. While many careers may be formed with an area of focus in Biology, the field of Biology Education is certainly one of the most critical.
An instructor’s goal, first and foremost, should be to transfer their knowledge and understanding to other individuals, in order to create a more educated world. An important aspect in the careers for any Biology Professor would have to be the communication methods they utilize. A viable Biology instructor would need to have great control over a wide variety of teaching methods, and thus would also need a strong ability to communicate using those methods. Lecture shouldn’t completely consist of individuals taking notes, it should be an interaction with students and professors, and should incorporate more hands-on opportunities for learning and for understanding, says Dr. David Eisenhour of Morehead State University. Communication skills are crucial for the transfer of knowledge, and must be presented using methods that students and other individuals will find interesting, as effective communication is often equally as important as the content being presented. Being a student in such an atmosphere may seem a bit overwhelming at times, and can certainly strain your ability to comprehend. It is for this reason that instructors encourage questions, and have office hours. “Nothing makes me happier than watching my students go off to graduate and medical schools, and knowing that I was a part, if only a very small one, of helping”. It is easy to see why many incoming Freshmen feel intimated or discouraged in one of the many Biology classroom settings – having very large class sizes and lecture material covered at an incredibly fast pace can sometimes take students who are new to the field by surprise. Instructors are more than aware of this feeling, having once been there themselves, and are almost always willing to help a student in need.
Communication is only one of the many critical aspects of becoming a highly-respected, and effective Biology instructor. Though many may consider teaching and instruction the only aspect of a Biology instructor’s career, this is certainly not the case. Research consumes much of the free time for any instructor, and although this may not seem like a very critical part of the profession, it is often the precursor to the development of many great Biology instructors. “Any great professor won’t need to use a lecture book; a truly great professor will stay ahead of the curve” Says Biology and Pre-Med advisor Dr. David Saxon. This is a direct result of the research that is completed by instructors and professionals in the field, alongside reading material from outside sources such as peer-reviewed journals and articles in scientific magazines.
Expanding on the previous statement a bit, it can be determined from various scientific studies that the knowledge and information one learns during their schooling will soon be irrelevant. This is not to say that all things learned during the course of your experiences in the Biology field are to be fruitless, but it is as Dr. Saxon has said, that professors must stay ahead of the printed material either my reading from outside sources, or even by discovering things on their own, in order for true knowledge to be passed on to future generations. Many times, educators will reflect upon what they have learned over the course of their schooling and find areas that they themselves feel would have been helpful. “Learning how to learn” is commonly accepted as a major stepping-stone in any student’s career through college. Adapting well to the study habits and methods that were not required of individuals in grade school is often one of the most difficult challenges incoming Freshmen face.
To be a great Biology professor requires a lifetime of learning. The atmosphere, being an educational one, constitutes a continual learning process for both students and educators alike, says Dr. Saxon. If you asked an educator if they enjoy what they do, you would be hard-pressed to find any who would say they don’t. To be an instructor means to have a continual thirst for knowledge, and to be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to meet your goals (Eisenhour). While the career of a Biology Professor is indeed a prestigious and crucial one, it is sometimes not a primary career goal. During the Biology major, students are given opportunities to expand their knowledge, partly in the form of educating opportunities. Many Biology students find themselves drawn to research fields, as well as doctoral, pharmaceutical, etc. It is through these fields that many students find their desire to teach, as was the case for both Dr. Eisenhour and Dr. Saxon.
The road to Biology education may seem challenging, but, for those who have a strong desire to learn, always proves to be a rewarding and exciting experience. Hopefully the ideas and topics discussed both from testimonies from Dr. David Eisenhour and Dr. David Saxon, as well as other various topics discussed through this report will help you to better understand the demands and challenges one may face – both through school and your future career. Hopefully it has also made apparent the rewards one will experience should they have the desire and the ability to teach.
Works Cited
Eisenhour, David. Interviewed By Dane Cravens. Morehead, KY. October 27th 2010.
Saxon, David. Interviewed by Dane Cravens. Morehead, KY. October 28th 2010.
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