Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Problem-Based Learning

We introduced problem-based learning to the Environmental Science and Management curriculum in the Dept. of Natural Resources Science in 2001. Courses taught using the PBL approach include classroom and online versions of Introduction to Soil Science (NRS 212), as well as Soil Microbiology (NRS 426) and Soil/Water Chemistry (NRS 412). Our interest in PBL has led to the publication a book, with Libby Miles and C. B. Peters entitled "The Practice of Problem-Based Learning: A Guide to Implementing PBL in the College Classroom" (Anker 2007), as well as peer-reviewed articles, presentations and workshops for faculty interested in adopting PBL in their courses.

Experiential Learning

Since 1995 we have hosted over 60 undergraduate students and a dozen K-12 students in our laboratory who have worked on independent study projects. A number of them have received research awards, been co-authors in peer-reviewed publications and published abstracts, and gone on to pursue advanced degrees and careers in research and education.

Online Education

Jose is the editor, with Kathleen Torrens (Communication Studies) of a book on online teaching, entitled "Taking Your Course Online: An Interdisciplinary Journey" (Information Age Publishing, 2012). The book focuses on transforming face-to-face courses to online from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. It features contributions from URI faculty that participated in a semester-long workshop on developing online courses in disciplines from nursing to landscape architecture. An online, PBL version of Introduction to Soil Science (NRS 212) was taught during summer session from 2009 to 2012.

Student Engagement in Large Lecture Courses

In the Fall of 2013 we introduced flipped learning, just-in-time teaching and peer instruction approaches in NRS 212 Introduction to Soil Science.

Technology to Enhance Science Teaching

We were part of the NSF-funded Rhode Island Technology-Enhanced Science (RITES) Project. We partnered with science teachers from West Warwick and Westerly High School to prepare and deliver short-courses on the ecology and biogeochemistry of earthworms in the summer of 2010 and 2011 to dozens of public middle and high school science teachers in Rhode Island.

Publications

Amador, J. A. 2019. Active learning approaches to teaching soil science at the college level. Front. Environ. Sci. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2019.00111

Amador, J. A., and L. Miles. 2016. Live from Boone Lake: Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning meets public science writing. Journal of College Science Teaching 45: 36-42.

Amador, J.A., and H. Mederer. 2013. Migrating successful student engagement strategies to the virtual classroom: Opportunities and challenges using jigsaw groups and Problem-Based Learning. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching 9: 89-105.

Torrens K. M., and J. A. Amador (editors). 2012. Taking Your Course Online: An Interdisciplinary Journey. Information Age Publishing, Inc., Charlotte, NC. 138 pages.

Amador, J. A., and K. M. Torrens. 2012. And in Conclusion…, p. 133-135. In Taking Your Course Online: An Interdisciplinary Journey (K.M. Torrens and J. A. Amador, Eds.) Information Age Publishing, Inc., Charlotte, NC.

Amador, J. A. 2012. Introduction to Soil Science: Transforming a Problem-Based Learning Course to Online, p. 79-91. In Taking Your Course Online: An Interdisciplinary Journey (K.M. Torrens and J. A. Amador, Eds.) Information Age Publishing, Inc., Charlotte, NC.

Amador, J. A., E. A. Miles, and C. B. Peters. 2007. The Practice of Problem-based Learning. Anker Publishing Co., Bolton, MA, 156 pages.

Amador, J. A., and J. H. Görres. 2004. A Problem-Based Learning approach to teaching introductory soil science. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 33:21-27.

Talks and Workshops

Anatomy of an 8-hour workshop: promoting engagement and learning among adult professionals - oral presentation by Alissa Cox at the Soil Science Society of America International Meeting, San Antonio, TX (November 2019)

Active learning in adult education: Activities, participant feedback, and lessons learned - poster by Sara Wigginton at the Soil Science Society of America International Meeting, San Antonio, TX (November 2019)

Active learning approaches to teaching soil science: Problem-Based Learning, Just-in-Time Teaching and Peer Instruction - lightning talk by Jose Amador at the Soil Science Society of America International Meeting, San Antonio, TX (November 2019)

Lightning Talk - Using PBL to Teach Soil Microbiology - invited talk given by Jose Amador at the Spring Conference, URI Collaboration for Exploration in Math and Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (May 2015)

Problem-Based Learning Workshop - presented by Jose Amador and Heather Johnson. Eastfield College - Dallas County Community College District, Dallas, TX (April 2015)

Problem-Based Learning Workshop - presented by Jose Amador and Heather Johnson. Richland College - Dallas County Community College District, Dallas, TX (November 2014)

Problem-Based Learning Workshop - presented by Jose Amador and Libby Miles. Spring 2014 STEM Faculty Fellows Academy, Eastfield College - Dallas County Community College District, Dallas, TX (April 2014)

Adventures in Interdisciplinary Teaching: Boone's Angels, Variable Milfoil, and Vegetative Buffer Strips - invited plenary talk by Jose Amador and Libby Miles at the URI Graduate Conference, Kingston, RI (April 2014)

STEM faculty discussion of "Making Scientists: Six Principles for Effective College Teaching" (Light & Micari, 2013) - led by Jose Amador and Bette Erickson (Instructional Development Program) (October 2013)

Communicating Science to the Public – Live From Boone Lake! - poster presented by Jose Amador and Libby Miles at the ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings, Tampa, FL (November 2013)

Getting Students Involved: Friendly Competition - invited talk given at the Course Planning Workshops, Instructional Development Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (August 2013)

Problem-Based Learning and the "Flipped Classroom"- talk presented by Jose Amador, Breck Peters and Libby Miles at Mesa Community College - Southern and Dobson Campus, Mesa, AZ (2013)

Problem-Based Learning Workshop - presented by Jose Amador, Breck Peters and Libby Miles at Benedictine University, Mesa, AZ (July 2013)

Problem-Based Learning From a Graduate Student’s Perspective - invited talk presented by Angela Possinger at the Biennial Soil Ecology Society Meeting, Camden, NJ (2013)

The Practice of Problem-Based Learning - invited talk by Jose Amador and Libby Miles for the Teaching Fellows Workshop, Instructional Development Program University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2013)

Online is Not Your Enemy - invited workshop given by Jose Amador and Helen Mederer for the Teaching Fellows, Instructional Development Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2012)

Problem-Based Learning - invited talk given at the Collaborative Explorations in Mathematics and Science Workshops, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2012)

Getting Students Involved - Friendly Competition - invited talk given at the Course Planning Workshops, Instructional Development Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2012)

Digging Into Soil - radio interview on Where We Live, WNPR, Connecticut Pubic Radio (June 2012)

Online is Not Your Enemy – invited talk by Jose Amador and Helen Mederer at the Teaching Fellows Workshop, Instructional Development Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2012)

The Practice of Problem-Based Learning - invited talk by Jose Amador at the Teaching Fellows Workshop, Instructional Development Program University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Getting Students Involved: Friendly Competition - invited talk by Jose Amador at the Course Planning Workshop, Instructional Development Program, University of Rhode Island, Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Problem-Based Learning -invited talk by Jose Amador at the 3rd Annual Academic Summit – Engaging Students in Learning With Technology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2011)

Are Earthworms Evil? - invited course led by Jose Amador and Heather Taylor for the Rhode Island Technology-Enhanced Science (RITES) Program Short Course for Middle and High School Science Teachers, Rhode Island College, Providence, and University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (Summer 2010 & 2011)

A Primer of Problem-Based Learning – invited talk presented by Jose Amador at the Faculty Forum on Engaging Students in Learning, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2010)

The Practice of Problem-Based Learning - invited workshop led by Jose Amador, Libby Miles and C. B. Peters at Quinnipiac College, Hamden, CT (2008)

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: Writing Problem-Based Learning Problems - invited talk presented by Jose Amador at the Adventures in Teaching Conference, Multidisciplinary Learning Communities Project for Students and Faculty in STEM, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2004)

A Problem-Based Learning Approach to Introductory Soil Science - talk presented by Jose Amador at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Indianapolis, IN (2002)

Problem-Based Learning in Soil Microbiology - talk presented by Jose Amador at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Charlotte, NC (2001)

Funding

World-Wide Clicker System - URI Office of the Provost (2012 - 2013) L. Pakula and J. Amador. $12,500.

Bringing Global Climate Change to the Classroom: Interdisciplinary Teaching, Outreach and Research on the Effects of Elevated CO₂ - Champlin Foundations (2011) L. Meyerson, J. Amador, F. Meyerson, S. McWilliams. $125,000.

Inquiry in Soil Science: Development of an Honors hands-on freshman course in Natural Resources Science - College of the Environment and Life Science (2002) J.A. Amador. $5,000.

Problem-Based Learning in Introduction to Soil Science: A Shift in Teaching Paradigm - College of the Environment and Life Science (2001) J.A. Amador. $5,500.

Increasing the number of Hispanic Doctoral Students in Natural Resources at the University of Rhode Island - Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (1999-2001) J.A. Amador. $18,000.