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Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
I am an active participant in Indiana University’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) initiative to examine pedagogical research questions in my classroom. I am examining the effects of interactive learning activities in my Anatomy A215 Class. I used Angelo and Cross' 1993 Classroom Assessment Techniques texts to develop short interactive learning modules for the classroom. You may view these learning activities by clicking the link, or by visiting the Anatomy A215 WWW site. These quick activities made the lecture more interactive, increased student engagement, and improved lecture exam performance.
I also am an active participant in the Course Portfolio Initiative . A course portfolio is a written work that documents your teaching efforts in a particular course. Evidence of learning is presented, and reflection about one's teaching is included. The course portfolio is a document that may be peer reviewed, much like a traditional research article. I developed my own course portfolio for Anatomy A215 (see http://www.unl.edu/peerrev), and I have peer reviewed several portfolios from several other research institutions.
My coauthor Mike McKinley and I have prepared an undergraduate Human Anatomy textbook. Human Anatomy is published by McGraw-Hill (copyright 2006). We have tried to create a textbook that is as anatomically accurate and complete as possible, yet easy to understand for the undergraduate student. We’ve developed multiple study tips and pedagogical aids in the text for both instructors and students. We welcome your comments and feedback on the text. We currently are working on our 2nd edition, and we are in the process of preparing a 1st edition Human Anatomy and Physiology textbook, also to be published by McGraw Hill.
Development of Web-Based Human Embryology Animations
Since summer 2000, I have been collaborating with others to develop short Human Embryology animations for use in my Gross Human Anatomy (A550-A551) course. Embryology is particularly difficult to understand because one has to learn how a 3-dimensional structure changes over time. Static, 2-D pictures are inadequate to illustrate the dynamic developmental processes that occur. Most animations have been developed using Adobe Illustrator and Director, and converted into QuickTime movies. Some animations are more interactive, and utilize Macromedia Flash software. I am in the process of examining how these animations help students learn the material and have received numerous educational grants for the assessment and development of these animations. Pedagogical online assessments are associated with each animation. I encourage you to view the animations, and be an assessor. Please see my embryology website: http://www.indiana.edu/~anat550/embryo_main
Developmental Plasticity of the Craniofacial Complex
My other research interests encompass the fields of physical anthropology and comparative anatomy. In particular, I am interested in the plasticity of the developing craniofacial complex. My dissertation research utilized skeletal remains to explore the effects of cultural cranial deformation and craniosynostoses on the endocranial vasculature. The term cultural cranial deformation is used to describe the practices of particular cultures to alter the shape of the skull in infancy and early childhood. Craniosynostosis is where one or more of the skull sutures prematurely fuse. Both cultural cranial deformation and craniosynostosis are similar in that they can both dramatically affect craniofacial shape. In my research, I found that both alter the endocranial vasculature impressions in similar ways.
Further information about my research and teaching interests may be found in my CV.
Representative Publications
Michael McKinley and Valerie Dean O’Loughlin. (in progress) Human Anatomy and Physiology: An Integrative Approach (1st edition). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill Publishing
Michael McKinley and Valerie Dean O'Loughlin. (2006) Human Anatomy (1st edition). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill Publishing
Valerie Dean O'Loughlin. (2006) A “How to” Guide for Developing a Publishable Scholarship of Teaching Project. Adv. Physiol. Educ. 30: 83-88.
Valerie Dean O’Loughlin. (2004) Effects of Different Kinds of Cranial Deformation on the Incidence of Wormian Bones. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 123(2): 146-155
Valerie Dean O'Loughlin. Anatomy A215 Course Portfolio (electronic document accessible at the course portfolio Peer Review site: http://www.unl.edu/peerrev )
V.D. O'Loughlin. (2002) Assessing the Effects of Interactive Learning Activities in a Large Science Class. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 13(1): 29-42
A.M. Burrows, V.D. O’Loughlin,M.P. Mooney, T.D. Smith, H.W. Losken, and M.I. Siegel. (2001) Endocranial Vasculature in a Rabbit Model of Familial Nonsyndromic Coronal Suture Synostosis. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 38(6):615-621 |
