Biology Lecturer
Education:
Ph.D., University of Toledo, Dept. of Biology, Toledo, Ohio - Emphasis: Aquatic Ecology
M.S., University of Toledo, Dept. of Biology, Toledo, Ohio - Emphasis: Comparative
Animal Physiology
B.A., Hiram College, Dept. of Biology, Hiram, Ohio - Emphasis: Zoology/Ecology
Teaching Philosophy:
I believe effective teachers have content knowledge and a desire to share that knowledge. Teachers are coaches that use a variety of techniques to grow mastery. It’s not enough to memorize a list of facts. Science today grows too quickly. A good scientist must have content knowledge and be able to integrate new knowledge and apply it to new situations. In order to help students, I use a variety of techniques. Scientific teaching is the use of techniques shown by research to be effective. For example, I use case studies to emphasize the application of facts to new situations. I pioneered the use of “clickers” at UT. I’ve used clickers to engage students in analyzing data and predicting outcomes. Using clickers gives me the ability to gauge understanding in class and tailor my lectures to those needs. In the end, I hope students feel they have been treated with fairness and respect. I want my students to have the content knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge for their continued success.
Research Interests:
Technology in the Classroom, Scientific Teaching
Courses Taught at UToledo:
BIOL1120 Survey of Biology
BIOL1220 Survey of Biology Lab
BIOL2150 Fundamentals of Life Science I
BIOL2160 Fundamentals of Life Science Lab I
BIOL2170 Fundamentals of Life Science II
BIOL2180 Fundamentals of Life Science Lab II
BIOL3070 Human Physiology
Publications:
Leady, B.S. 2016. Fundamentals of Life Science Lab Manual. Westland, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing Co. 22nd edition.
Fortney, R.H., M. Benedict, J.F. Gottgens, T. Walters, B. Leady and J. Rentch. 2004. Aquatic plant community composition along an inundation gradient at two ecologically-distinct sites in the Pantanal region of Brazil. Wetlands Ecology and Management 12(6): 575-585.
Leady, B.S. and J.F. Gottgens. 2001. Mercury accumulation in sediment cores and along food chains in two regions of the Brazilian Pantanal. Wetlands Ecology and Management 9(4):349-361.
Kumar, A., V. Chigullapalli, K. Venkataraman, S. Sundaresan, B.S. Simmers, and J.F. Gottgens. 1999. Estimation of methyl mercury concentration in fish due to deposition of mercury from an urban area on water bodies. J. Great Lakes' Law, Science & Policy 2(1): 43-67.
Gottgens, J.F., B.E. Rood, J.J. Delfino, and B.S. Simmers. 1999. Uncertainty in paleoecological studies of mercury in sediment cores. Water Air Soil Pollut. 110: 313-333.
Tramer, E.J. and B. Simmers. 1994. Unusual copulatory behavior by Fiery-throated Hummingbirds. Wilson Bulletin 106(3):573.
Simmers, B.S. 1993. Avian Noninvasive Hormone Monitoring: Correlation of excretory and plasma steroid levels in the Japanese Quail. Master of Science Thesis: The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio. 95 p
Mahan, T. and B.S.. Simmers. 1991. Effect of cross-fostering on social preferences in juvenile cranes. Proceedings of the Sixth North American Crane Workshop. Regina, Saskatchewan.