Approaching with a tutorial topic

There are many ideas about tutorials that may be good, but that may not be appropriate. I reserve the right to refuse tutorials that are outside my areas of expertise or that cannot be fit into a reasonable schedule. I do have a finite amount of time to prepare for and engage in tutorials along with other responsibilities. I generally do not engage in tutorials with individuals if I have not worked with them in a class or independent study setting. I prefer tutorials with at least two students participating so that the pair can form a resource team. Tutorials should be experimental and experiential, but remember that I am responsible for evaluating some type of product from this activity. Also remember that mentors can also be co-learners to broaden their own understandings of ideas.

Many students do not plan adequately for tutorials. Careful consideration of readings and other activities can lead to a more productive, stimulating educational experience. I generally do not do tutorials for classes that I teach. There are RARE exceptions which are addressed on individual cases. When considering a tutorial with me, you must bring to the first meeting a proposal including a preliminary syllabus and activity schedule. The proposal should include why you want to do the tutorial and how it fits into your overall curriculum. You also need to address the product from the tutorial. Simply saying that a journal will be done is not sufficient. You need to suggest what types of information will be contained in the journal and how the journal fits into the educational framework of the tutorial. Other forms of products are also acceptable.

I rarely accept second module tutorials that are not added to the contract early in the first module. Too many times, students view such second module tutorials as "rescues" from a poor performance in another class.

Please note that I generally do not accept late work. If you plan to do a tutorial with me, also plan to work at a steady and productive pace to complete material in a timely manner.

Topics that students have proposed in the past include:

Biological Approaches to Mathematical Statistics

Internship at Gulf Coast World of Science

Biological Implications of Chaos theory

Women in a Technological Age

Ecological Statistics

Biological Aspects of Gender

Molecular aging

Population genetics and demography

Wildlife rehabilitation

Conservation genetics

Mangrove ecology

Molecular techniques

Oceanography

Biology of Crustacea

Biological Implications of Sexual Pleasure

Scientific and Social Study of Sex and Gender

Women scientists

Internships at a state park, and local governmental agencies dealing with biology and coastal zone management

For tutorials, I generally meet with students not less than 1 hour a week. Independent reading projects can be arranged with less frequent meetings. Remember to sign up for a tutorial or IRP early. Thesis students must be given priority for open time slots.

Please note that at this time, only IRPs and thesis tutorials will be considered for second semester. To keep the Coral Reef Program alive, I must work with students to raise nearly $30,000 in second semester. Plan early for Fall 1999 with tutorials.