May 08, 2009
Students Gain Appreciation of Insects in Class
LINCOLN, Neb. — The insect "ewww" factor is gone for Tricia Dodson, who no longer squishes those little critters with her shoe when she sees one on the sidewalk.
Dodson, a junior in broadcasting and film studies, has gained a new appreciation of insects while taking the Insect Identification course at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Learning about the value of insects even led to Dodson taking care of a roach 24/7. "I don't think my roommates particularly cared for it," she said, smiling.
Dodson is one of many non-entomology majors who's taken the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources course. The diversity of the students is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the class for Tiffany Heng-Moss, the professor teaching this 100-level course.
Each diverse group of students learns about insect diversity. They study the major insect orders and how to identify important insects by their common name. These skills translate into other areas of learning and life because they learn about the scientific classification system, research and systematics, Heng-Moss said.
Each student prepares an insect collection, which must have a minimum of seven different insect orders and at least 10 specimens identified to the family level. Insects are collected in labs on East Campus and at an acreage belonging to Fred Baxendale, UNL entomologist and turfgrass specialist. Baxendale adds a forensic element to the lab by showing students how maggots develop on raw meat left outside, which is fascinating for some students and a little on the gross side for others.
Seeing an insect in its true habitat makes it easier for students to remember the information they're learning, Heng-Moss said.
"Everyone has a different level of comfort and tolerance of insects, but the more they learn, the more they overcome their fears and anxieties."
Ideally, at the end of the class, the students recognize the many important roles insects play in their life. "I use an inquiry-based teaching model to help students discover the excitement of science," Heng-Moss said.
Joe Sims, 39, a former Husker and Atlanta Falcons football player from Orlando, Fla., asked a lot of questions as he gathered insects at Baxendale's acreage. Majoring in criminal justice, Sims chose Insect Identification because he's particularly interested in insect forensics.
"I'd recommend this class no matter what major," he said. "You get a different respect for nature. Society is moving so fast. We don't take enough time to enjoy nature."
5/8/09-LU Tiffany M. Heng-Moss - Ph.D.
Entomology Assistant Professor (402)472-8708
 
Linda Ulrich IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department:
Entomology
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