Michael Crossley was a Scientific Teaching Fellow in 2019 while pursuing a PhD in entomology. Today, he is an assistant professor and agricultural entomologist at the University of Delaware with a 60/40 research/teaching split. Outside of work, he enjoys playing Irish traditional music (on flute and banjo) with friends, gardening and beekeeping, and spending time outdoors with his wife and kids.
What was your favorite part of the Scientific Teaching Fellows program?
My favorite part was the community and working toward something together. We learned together, developed learning materials together, and ultimately, taught a real undergraduate course together.
What was one of the most valuable things you learned as a Fellow?
The most valuable thing for me was how to craft learning goals and then design learning activities and assessments around those goals. I always start there when building out a new course (and I am in the midst of it now, making a course on Insects as Food and Feed). Perhaps a close second, and related, is confidence to design and deliver course content. Being a TA or guest lecturer just doesn’t come close.
What is something surprising or unexpected you experienced as a Fellow?
I think it again comes back to community. I wasn’t expecting to find myself in the midst of a group of peers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds, working together to improve our teaching and deliver meaningful learning experiences to a large class. Even really fruitful collaborations in research haven’t quite reached that level of teamwork and friendship. What a treat!
How have you applied the skills and knowledge from this program in your career?
Yes! I mentioned the biggest way already—in designing learning activities and assessments around carefully crafted learning goals. I also feel empowered to design courses, something I wouldn’t have imagined being able to do prior to the teaching fellowship.
What excites you about teaching?
I get excited at the prospect of students really understanding new concepts and being inspired to learn more and make a difference wherever they apply what they’ve learned. I also like the feeling of connection with a class that grows over the semester, to the point where we know each other and can laugh at the funny things about what we’re learning together. Specific to my field, I get excited by the opportunity to convey wonder and respect for insects, which are perhaps more often perceived as a threat and nuisance.
What advice do you have for new Fellows coming into this program?
I would encourage new Fellows to really invest in their team. Put 100% into drafting that lesson plan, giving peer feedback, and engaging with the students in your class. Lean on the expertise of your teaching mentor and really listen to their feedback. Savor your time in the program—you might not experience anything quite like it again.
Learn more about Scientific Teaching Fellows.