Profile - Joan McKearnan

Joan McKearnan

Instructor Profile

Meet Joan McKearnan
Instructor of Biology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Maryland; Master of Science (MS), University of Minnesota Duluth; Bachelor of Arts (BA), Gustavus Aldophus College

Question and Answer

  • Question

    Would you list some recent accomplishments?

    Answer

    Awards:

    • Minnesota State College Faculty, Coon Rapids Chapter Most Honored Faculty, 2008

    Publications:

    • Cuthbert, F. J., L. R. Wires, and J. E. McKearnan. 2002. Potential Impacts of Nesting Double-crested Cormorants on Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons in the U.S. Great Lakes Region. J. Great Lakes Res. 28:145-154
    • Gates, J. E. and J. E. McKearnan. 2003. Artificial predation across riparian-upland forest ecotones. Southeastern Naturalist 2:301-312
    • McKearnan, J.E. 1999. Possible expansion of breeding Great Black-backed Gulls in Michigan. Michigan Birds and Natural History 6:15-18
    • McKearnan, J.E. 1999. Possible hybrid Ring-billed Gull. Michigan Birds and Natural History 6:23-24
    • McKearnan, J.E. and F.J. Cuthbert. 1989. Status and breeding success of Common Terns in Minnesota. Colonial Waterbirds 12:185-190
    • Cuthbert, F.J., J.E. McKearnan, and T.E. Davis. 1984. Status and breeding success of Common Terns at the Port Terminal, Duluth 1982-1983. Loon 54:24-29

  • Question

    What is your approach to teaching?

    Answer

    I teach Anatomy & Physiology, Unifying Concepts in Biology, Environmental Science, Human Body, Field Biology and Animal Biology. I believe teaching should be an active, never-ending and fun experience. Students should learn how to be critical thinkers and how to apply scientific processes to everyday decisions. And last of all, learning should encourage students to enjoy the wonder of nature.

  • Question

    What inspires you as a teacher?

    Answer

    Students asking thoughtful, inquiring questions that I might not necessarily know the answer to but show they are thinking deeply are what inspire me. Role models are too numerous to name, but they include my students, former and fellow teachers and, of course, my parents. I am a collection of the interactions I have had with all these role models.

  • Question

    How would you describe what happens during one of your most successful classes?

    Answer

    My most successful classes are when I don't have to do anything (but perhaps tell my students time is up). When students start discussing topics or issues and they are animated and engaged, my job is done.

  • Question

    What makes your curriculum interesting or valuable to students?

    Answer

    Much of the topics I teach relate to students' everyday lives; whether they are learning how the body works or how humans impact the environment, they are learning about things that affect them. Also, in my classes, students learn about amazing adaptations that living organisms possess from bacteria that consume oil to animals that can get pregnant before birth.

  • Question

    What are some ways that you help students succeed when they need extra help?

    Answer

    I hope I make students realize that there are different ways of learning, and I work with them to learn different learning strategies.

Fun Facts

  • Fun Fact #1

    I am an ornithologist and love to take people birding, especially kids.

  • Fun Fact #2

    I have a lovely daughter from Ethiopia.

  • Fun Fact #3

    A day without dark chocolate is a sad day indeed for me.

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