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Courses:
Organisms
(BIO 114), Contemporary Biology (GBIO 103), Effective
Teaching I (BIO 600)
Research
Interests:
Salamander
Tail Development My research on the molecular
aspects of segment formation in salamanders is a collaborative project
with Sharon Babcock (JMU) and Janet Vaglia (DePauw University).
We are interested in analyzing the formation of embryonic and
post-embryonic tail segments in Hemidactylium
scutatum.
Axial elongation in the four-toed salamander, H. scutatum occurs
throughout larval, juvenile and adult life history stages via the
development and growth of additional caudal (tail) segments. The
morphogenetic problems that need to be solved to add caudal segments to
post-embryonic vertebrate tails have never been addressed.
Insights into the underlying mechanisms for the continual addition of
caudal segments throughout larval, juvenile, and adult stages may be
rooted in processes that direct embryonic tail development. Thus,
our initial goals are to develop a normal table of embryonic
development for H. scutatum,
characterize embryonic segmentation by
visualizing somites, and determine the molecular pathways involved in
caudal segment formation throughout all life history stages. Click
here for more
information on this research project.
Teaching
Strategies and Emerging Technologies Another area of
my scholarly endeavors focuses on the assessing the efficacy of
classroom learning environments. I have investigated the
influence of student reading on learning in my non-majors biology
course. In this course I utilize a web-based textbook
(Discovering Life Virtual Textbook) where I house reading assignments
in the form of Internet web links. These links allow students
access to relevant, up-to-date material on topics analyzed in
lecture. Results from my work suggest that students prefer
accessing reading material via the Internet and perform better on
content examinations.
Curriculum
Design & Programmatic Assessment To support
departmental curriculum reform efforts, I expanded my educational
research efforts to encompass the design and assessment of the biology
majors-level curriculum. My work in this area supports the
development of the Bio 114 course and laboratory materials. I
also designed an assessment strategy to explore the educational impact
of the new curriculum and to disseminate products of our curriculum
reform efforts.
Selected
Publications:
Hurney, CA, Babcock SK and Pesce, A.
Organisms. A Laboratory Manual for Bio 114. Pearson Custom
Publishing. Fall 2003 (153 pages).
Monroe, JD and Hurney, CA. CCLI and Curriculum
Change in Biology. CUR Quarterly. 2002.
Hurney, CA. Discovering Life, Virtual
Textbook. Editor. September 1999-August 2003. http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/hurneyca/
Goodwin, EB, Hofstra, K, Hurney, CA, Mango, S, and
Kimble, J. 1997. A genetic pathway for regulation of tra-2 translation.
Genes and Development, 124: 749-758.
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