Christopher X J. Jensen
Associate Professor, Pratt Institute

Cath Dennis publishes non-computerized classroom adaptation of Axelrod’s iPD Tournament

Posted 30 May 2014 / 0

I have corresponded with Cath Dennis of the University of Aberdeen, as we both share an interest in how to bring some of the foundational work exploring cooperation into our classrooms. She has just published one of her classroom activities — an “analog” version of Robert Axelrod’s iPD tournaments — in the Journal of Biological Education.

A Minor Post, Articles, Cooperation, Evolution Education, Evolutionary Modeling, Game Theory, Reciprocity, Teaching Tools

I receive funding to initiate the WmD Project

Posted 06 Mar 2014 / 2

It seemed like a proposal with a dim chance of being funded, but on a bizarre whim of inspiration I decided to apply for a small bit of money so I could initiate a new creative venture that I am calling the WmD Project. It turns out that Pratt’s Faculty Development Fund has a bit Read More

A Major Post, Ecology, Ecology Education, Evolution, Evolution Education, Pratt Institute, Science in Art & Design, The WmD Project

Sweet Fern Productions puts Alfred Russel Wallace to paper

Posted 26 Jan 2014 / 0

Sweet Fern Productions “The Animated Life of A.R. Wallace” I loved the Sweet Fern video on whale fall, but this is even more valuable as a historical account of Wallace’s life. I really like the way that this video depicts natural selection! Great way of showing differential survival as Wallace might have seen it!

A Minor Post, Biography, Evolution, Evolution Education, Film, Television, & Video, Geography, History, Natural Selection, Science as a career, Science in Art & Design, Speciation, Teaching Tools, The WmD Project, Tropical Forest

How will I deliver conceptual understanding?

Posted 25 Jul 2013 / 0

Now that I have made the decision to seriously assess my conceptual teaching, it is time for me to take a look at what might produce student learning. As I described in my previous post, I plan to dramatically overhaul my The Evolution of Cooperation course to optimize the value of everything that makes up my teaching. Read More

A Major Post, Assessment Methods, Concept Mapping, Conceptual Teaching Assessment Project, Evolution Education, MSCI-463, The Evolution of Cooperation

Embarking on a grand experiment in conceptual teaching

Posted 24 Jul 2013 / 0

I pride myself on being a conceptual teacher: although you will likely learn a lot of interesting facts in my classes, the focus of my teaching is on ideas and concepts. I want my students to understand how things work and why things exist, and both of these pursuits are fundamentally conceptual in nature. Almost all of Read More

A Major Post, Assessment Methods, Concept Mapping, Conceptual Teaching Assessment Project, Cooperation, Course Readings, Evolution Education, Higher Education, MSCI-463, The Evolution of Cooperation, Teaching

Roberts Publishing releases an iPad version of their majors Evolution textbook

Posted 12 Jan 2013 / 0

iTunes “Evolution: Making Sense of Life” I don’t own an iPad so I won’t be playing with this anytime soon, but I am very curious about the impact of this first-of-its-kind majors Evolution textbook for tablet. I am not sure if this is the new big thing or the last dying try of the old-model Read More

A Minor Post, Educational Software and Apps, Evolution, Evolution Education, Teaching Tools

New assessment of scientific reasoning skills suggests that students need better inquiry-based education

Posted 24 Jun 2012 / 0

Science Insider “U.S. Students Know What, But Not Why“

A Minor Post, Ecology Education, Evolution Education, Higher Education, Teaching

Great Michael Ruse piece on the politics of resisting religious encroachment on evolutionary biology

Posted 23 Jun 2012 / 0

The Chronicle of Higher Education “Evolution in the Classroom: Here We Go Again!” Classic and entire appropriate commentary on Richard Dawkins here!!

A Minor Post, Articles, Creationism, Evolution Education, Religion

A competitive nominee in the “weirdest YouTube video about a theoretical biology paper” category

Posted 21 Jun 2012 / 0 A Minor Post, Cooperation, Evolution Education, Film & Video, Public Outreach

Once your subject becomes a continuing education class…

Posted 21 Jun 2012 / 0

…you know that it has gotten into the mind of the public. University of Oxford course “Evolution of Cooperation and Cheating: From Microbes to Humans“

A Minor Post, Cooperation, Evolution Education