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Summary
Because my program is interdisciplinary and systems-oriented, I have generally tried to develop new courses,
rather than teach conventional courses, though I have taught courses in both Insect Ecology and
Insect Modeling. My teaching responsibilties, in addition to classroom instruction, includes supervising
graduate students. I have served on numerous graduate committees in several departments (e.g., Biological Systems
Engineering, Computer Sciences, Agricultural Economics) and have acted as major professor for several students
in Entomology (see below). You can see descriptions of the courses I currently teach on our departmental
website, or you can see a complete listing below.
Graduate Students
As of 1996, all theses and dissertations at Virginia Tech are submitted
in digital (PDF) format and are available on-line through the University Library
Ronaldo A. Sequeira - Ph.D. 1990
"A Comparison of Traditional versus Object-Oriented Models for Simulation of Plant Development"
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Amie J. Birdwhistell - M.S. 1992
"Movement Patterns and Phonology of the Tobacco Thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), in
Virginia Peanuts"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
M. Sean Clark - M.S 1993
"Generalist Predators in Reduced-Tillage Corn: Predation on armyworm, habitat preferences,
and a method to estimate absolute densities"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Prabhakar V. V. Bhogaraju - M.S. 1996
"A Case-Based Reasoner for Evaluating Crop Rotations in Whole-Farm Planning"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Peter Lane Warren - M.S. 1999
"Virginia Integrated Pest Management Expert for Wheat"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
José López-Collado - Ph.D. 1999
"A Whole-Farm Planning Decision Support System for Preventive Integrated Pest
Management and Nonpoint Source Pollution Control"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Sarah Satterlee - M.S. Candidate
(preliminary title) "Evolving the Natural Enemy Component of a Southern Pine Beetle
Simulation Model Using Genetic Algorithms"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Texas A&M University:
- Seminar in Insect Modeling
- Course was designed to survey recent literature on insect modeling and to identify and discuss current issues. Students were required to review literature on their chosen topic, assign key papers as reading for the class, and lead class discussion.
- Systems Science in IPM
- Integrated pest management (IPM) is typically defined, studied, and taught as the combination of a diverse array of insect control tactics which are then addressed singly. This class focused on the integration aspects of IPM, getting at the question of how to choose and combine management strategies to control persistent pests in economically sound ways. The course explored the use of mathematical modeling, simulation, optimization, and knowledge-based systems to help understand the biological systems involved and the relationships between biology, economics, legislation, and other factors that affect pest control decision making.
- Knowledge-based Approaches to Insect Pest Management
- An independent study, this course taught the basics of knowledge-based systems and their application to problems in pest management. An expert system was required as a project.
Virginia Tech:
- Systems Approaches to Agroecology
- Agroecology has expanded the scope of ecology to include many of the social and economic factors and forces that have an impact on agricultural production. Systems science in general, and modeling, optimization, and knowledge-based systems in particular are needed to synthesize and analyze agroecological phenomena and to recommend sound agroecological practices. This course was based on a holistic problem solving model and taught fundamental problem solving techniques for dealing with problems involving complex systems.
- Population Modeling of Insect Systems
- In the past, this course has taught students the basics of computer programming in FORTRAN and through a series of three course projects, taught students how to simulate insect populations using age-structured, temperature-dependent models. I expand the scope of the course to include fundamentals of plant modeling and insect/plant interactions. I also use spreadsheets and user-friendly modeling software (Stella) to introduce modeling concepts, and the C-language is used in class projects.
- Knowledge-Based Systems in Agriculture & Natural Resource Management
- This seminar-style, team-taught course explores current issues in the application of artificial intelligence and knowledge-based systems to agriculture and natural resources. Students select topics, assign readings from recent literature, and lead class discussion.
- Insects and Human Society
- Rick Fell and I created and taught this course over two years, first as a graduate seminar, then as
an undergraduate class. Since then, I have worked with Dr. Tim Mack and other instructors to help automate
class quizzes and questionnaires through the use of the web utilities, WhizQuiz
and WhizQuest. Ent 2004 is now also a distance-delivered class as well as a large (500 students)
lecture-style class. It is an excellent case study for how information technology can help make instruction and educational programs more generally available. This class is also a test bed for other software being developed through a USDA Challenge Grant.
Along with Tim Mack, Bill Ravlin, Scott Salom, Andy Roberts, Belinda Carroll, and Don Mullins, I received an
XCaliber Certificate of Excellence in 1998 for "Exemplary contributions to course development using
technology," and with Tim Mack and Belinda Carroll, A*DEC's Distance Education Award in 2000 for work on
this course (see recognition section).
- Ecosystem Assessment, Management, and Policy
- Through the National Needs Fellowship grant, the SWAMP group created a course that we have taught once and will teach again in alternate years. It is multidisciplinary, co-taught with Mary Leigh Wolfe and Theo Dilliha in BSE and with Darrell Bosch and Jim Pease in A&AE. I teach the section on management and decision support systems. This course is the cornerstone of our fellowship program, which can lead to doctoral degrees in Entomology, BSE, or A&AE.
- Research and Information Systems in the Life Sciences
- I joined Don Mullins in teaching this class in 1998, adding the information systems component to what
was a research methods class. We also modified the class more recently to serve as a core course for
graduate students in the four-department MS degree program in the Life Sciences.
- Microcomputers in Agriculture
- Working with several faculty members but especially with David Lamie and Mike McGilliard, I have worked to add self-paced instructional aids into this course, coordinating these efforts with AgNIS's technology training program.
- Insect Ecology
- This class was taught for many years at Virginia Tech by Bob Pienkowski. In 1999, I co-taught the
class with Loke Kok and have subsequently assumed full responsibility for the course.
Adult and Continuing Education Activity
Presented invited lecture on, "Artificial intelligence and living systems," at the 33rd Annual Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching. College Station, Texas, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 1986. Attendance: 128 science teachers.
Conducted a workshop/seminar on Expert Systems as part of the Annual Staff Conference of the Texas Agric. Exp. Sta., College Station, Jan. 6-9, 1986.
Co-organized and conducted College of Agriculture Workshop on Systems Approaches to Teaching, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, Jan. 8-9, 1987. Attendance: 45 faculty.
Presented WhizID Seminar, "A web-based diagnostic system shell and its use as an electronic key." Smithsonian Institution Seminar in Systematics, Natural History Museum. March 27, 1998.
Presented NutMan Training Program for Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department Staff. J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Richmond, Va., June 11, 1998.
Nutrient Management Program Design & Implementation Focus Groups: jointly organized and led three focus groups, one each in Richmond, Va., Anapolis, Md., and Harrisburg, Pa. April 22, May 5, and May 14, 1998.
Presented NutMan Training Program for Certified Nutrient Management Planners. J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Richmond, Va., February 19, 1999.
NutMan Training for Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents. Part of VCE Nutrient Management Inservice Training, Charlottesville, Virginia, March 2-3, 1999.
Stone, N.D. and J. Venuto. NutMan Training Sessions for Farmers and Agricultural Professionals developing Nutrient Management Programs. J. Sergeant Reynolds, Richmond, Virginia, July 27, 1999, March 2, 2000.
Efforts to Improve Teaching Effectiveness
Invited participant (1 of 34 and 1 of 3 from Agricultural Programs) in the
NSF Workshop: A Quantitative Sciences Curriculum for Life Science Students, Knoxville, Tennessee, February 6-8, 1992. Discussed the needs of life science students for quantitative skills and how best to teach those skills in a flexible manner. Developed recommendations for a freshman-sophomore level course and for more detailed follow-up courses and additions/modifications to existing courses.
Attended Virginia Tech's Faculty Development Institute in the summer of 1995.
Participated in the Faculty Development Institute again in summer, 2000.
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