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ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR PEG JOHNSON

I began my education back when dinosaurs roamed the earth - well, almost. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the University of Texas in 1968. This qualified me to work in hospital clinical laboratories, which I did through 1970. We then moved to Austin, Texas, so my husband could pursue a doctorate at the University of Texas. While there I worked as a microbiologist at the Texas State Health Department, identifying bacterial cultures for four years .

In 1974 when my husband got a job in Tempe, Arizona (REAL employment!), we moved to the Grand Canyon state. After a year off to care for my newborn daughter, I began working on a Master's degree in Microbiology at Arizona State University. As a full-time mother, I could only handle being a part-time student. I eventually earned an M.S. in Microbiology in 1978.

I immediately put my education to work by teaching microbiology and biology classes part-time at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona. This was a wonderful way to have time for my family (a second daughter had made her appearance) and keep up my professional interests. Both daughters have ended up pursuing degrees in biology. Nobody could have been more surprized by this development than me! When I asked them to pose for a portrait awhile back, they insisted they would only comply if we would have "mad scientist" photo taken. You can see the results here, with all the appropriate props. I am the old woman in the middle. You probably think you should seek another instructor about now, but it was JUST A POSE - ordered by my children!! You know what sacrifices mothers make for their kids ...

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My husband is not in science, and happily refused to be included in this family photo opportunity - what a smart man he is! Some other more sane pictures are also included of students and/or me acting a little more normal.

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Me trying to be part of a student group. (That's me in the red dress.) Sometimes students are nice enough to let me join and I have a ball!

The next picture was taken after I developed Bio 100 Online.

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Note the difference in the hair color - this project turned my hair white! Well, not really. I just decided to quit supporting the Clairol corporation, but it sounds better with the first version! I thought I should practice truth in advertising just in case you were trying to find me on campus.

When my youngest daughter began first grade I started teaching full-time and have continued ever since. My love of biology and teaching has only grown stronger as the years pass. In addition to my teaching duties I have edited and/or written several laboratory manuals and publications as listed at the bottom of this page.

Eventually I began pursuing a doctorate degree while continuing to teach. I earned a Doctorate in Education from Arizona State University in 1993. The focus of my research was, and is, science education issues. My own research, as well as that of other scientists, make me a firm believer in the desirability of inquiry-based instruction. A colleague (Dr. Brad Kincaid) and myself were co-principal investigators for a $340,000 National Science Foundation grant to use technology to support inquiry-oriented biology curriculum. This research was conducted over a three-year period (1993-1996).

Upon request of the Dean of Instruction, I served as chair person for the Life Science Department in 1996-97. While this was a valuable learning experience for me, my heart lies in teaching.

During the fall, 1997, semester I used a sabbatical to develop a CD-ROM for Microbiology students called MicroVision. MicroVision has more than 450 high-resolution photographs of microbes as seen under the microscope, tests to identify bacteria, and practice practical examination questions. This provides microbiology students with a way to study organisms at home - providing access to a virtual microscope and microbiology laboratory. Student response has been overwhelmingly positive for this resource.

In the process of developing MicroVision, I learned HTML language and other techniques needed to put a course on the Internet. I became familiar with WebCT, the online course managment software I used to develop the Biology 100 online course that was first offered in the Spring, 1998, semester.

PUBLICATIONS

Biology Concepts in Action by Johnson, Dinchak, Minckley, Bristol and Kalison, 1989

The Role of Hypothetico-Deductive Reasoning and Physical Analogues of Molecular Interactions in Conceptual Change, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 30 (9), p. 1073-1085, 1993. A.E. Lawson, W.P. Baker, L. DiDonatao, M.P.Verdi, and M.A. Johnson

Evaluating Educational Outcomes with Alternative Methods of Instruction in a Non-Majors College Biology Course, doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University,1993.
Microbes in Action 2nd edition by Johnson, Kelly, and Cooper,1994

Preparing Future Faculty for Unfamiliar Teaching Settings-A Process in Need of Revision,Journal of College Science Teaching, XXV(1), p. 24-25, 1995.

Investigating Biology 7th edition by Johnson and Kincaid, 1996
Faculty Roles at a Community College, Our Tortuous Path to Inquiry-oriented Instruction in an Introductory Biology Course, W. B. Kincaid and M.A. Johnson, in SCST monograph Traditional Approaches Toward Innovation, Society for College Science Teachers monograph series, 1997.

Investigating Life Online by Johnson, 1998.

Learning About Cellular Respiration: An Active Approach Illustrating the Process of Scientific Inquiry, American Biology Teacher 60 (9), p. 1-5, 1998. Peg Johnson

What are the Relative Effects of Reasoning Ability and Prior Knowledge on Biology Achievement in Expository and Inquiry Classes? Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35 (1), p. 89-103, 1998. M.A. Johnson and A.E. Lawson.

Author of MicroVision CD-ROM, an introductory microbiology laboratory tutorial that includes more than 450 micrographs of microorganisms and the biochemical tests used to identify them along with practice practical exam questions, January, 1999.

Introduction to Microbiology by Johnson, 1999.

Contributor of photomicrographs to the online American Society of Microbiology Instructional Library resource for students and faculty, October, 1999.

Contributor of photomicrographs to the online Microbiology and Immunology Textbook by R.C. Hunt.

Introductory Biology Online: Assessing Outcomes of Two Student Populations, Journal of College Science Teaching, XXXI (5), p.312-317, 2002 by Margaret Johnson

The Validity of Kolb Learning Styles and Neo-Piagetian Developmental Levels in College Biology, Studies in Higher Education, 27 (1), p. 79-90, 2002 by Anton Lawson and Margaret Johnson

Editor of "Understanding and Interpreting ELISA", a curriculum activity included in the American Society of Microbiology Curriculum Resources collection, February, 2001.

PRESENTATIONS

Oct. 16-17,1998 - conference speaker at Michigan Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Conference "Envisioning the Future in the Classroom and Laboratory" at Delta College, Saginaw, MI.

May 19, 2000 - panel member at American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Education Conference "Active Learning Approaches and Classroom Examples for Microbiology", Pomona, CA.

November 6, 2000 - presented online biology course at WebCT Expo, Phoenix College, Phoenix, Az.

April 9, 2001 - presention on online biology course via Horizon Live to WebCT's Asia-Pacific User's Conference in Adelaide, Australia.

November 29, 2001 - microbiology course featured as part of teleconference entitled "Using Information Technology in a Traditional Classroom" produced by the LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications, Dallas Coounty Community College District.

June 20, 2002 - presented "From Worried to Wily - helping faculty develop online courses they can be proud of at Mesa Community College" at Portland State University Summer Institute for Faculty Development for Teaching, Learning and Technology; Portland, Oregon.

March 17, 2003 - presented "Mission Impossible: Creating an Effective Online Lab Course" at the League for Innovation in the Community College conference; Phoenix, Arizona.

TEACHING AWARDS

1996 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) teaching award from Community College Leadership Program, College of Education, University of Texas at Austin.

2000 Gustav Ohaus Innovation in College Science Teaching award from the National Science Teacher's Association.

2000 Two-Year College Biology Teacher of the Year Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers.

2000 Finalist CCS Presentation Systems and Proxima Corporation Arizona Technology Teacher of the Year Award

2001 Biology 100 Online course selected as WebCT Exemplary Project.

GRANT RECEIVED

co-principal investigator for $340,000 BioApps Project grant to use technology to support inquiry-oriented biology curriculum from the National Science Foundation

CO-CHAIRMAN

co-chairman of American Society for Microbiology Eighth Conference on Undergraduate Education, May, 2001.

ADVISORY BOARD

Journal of College Science Teaching Advisory Board member, 2000-20002.

FEATURED

Online Bio 100 course featured in article by Brock Read in The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 9, 2001, entitled "Grocery Lists for Students Taking an Online Biology Course Include Items for Home Experiments".

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

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