Terry Peard's

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Education:

B.S., Edinboro State Teachers College, 1964

M.S.T., Cornell University, 1969

Ph.D., Cornell University, 1983

My professional interests lie both in science education and in biology. My research interest in biology involves the freshwater jellyfish, Craspedacusta sowerbii. Over the past several years, I have been examining the ecology and distribution of the organism in Pennsylvania. Grant support has permitted preliminary work on water chemistry in locations where the organism has been located, specimen collection, and embedment and preparation of specimen tissues. Most recently, I have begun work on the confirmation and characterization of the mitochondrial DNA and SEM studies of the morphology of the medusae, larvae, and polyp stages.

In science education my attention is focused on developing and implementing student-centered, hands-on teaching and learning strategies. Specific topics currently being addressed include computer-laboratory interfacing, concept mapping, Vee diagraming, cooperative learning, and inquiry teaching. Considerable work in these areas has been done with teachers from area school districts and at various local, state, and national conventions. NSF grant funding has supported an extensive project for the development of computer-laboratory interfaced experiments in biology, chemistry, physics, and general science and the production of accompanying videotapes and teacher and student manuals.