DR. JACQUELINE MCLAUGHLIN

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin is an award-winning instructor and researcher in the fields of Biology and Biology education. McLaughlin earned a B.A. degree in biology/chemistry from New College of University of South Florida, a M.S. in cell and developmental biology from The Florida State University, and a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Rutgers University/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College, where she instructs courses in biodiversity and evolution, human biology, human physiology, and development. Her research has focused on pro-nuclei migration during fertilization, the role of collagen type V in corneal development, and the development of the vertebrate heart. Presently, her research centers around teaching: assessing the effectiveness of integrating Web based instruction into the biology curriculum and the professional development of high school teachers using this technology; immersing students in the study of biodiversity through a blended delivery of disciplinary knowledge and experiential field study, and the professional development of teachers who use an experiential learning paradigm to teach environmental science. In keeping with her endeavors, Dr. McLaughlin has led numerous experiential field courses throughout Pennsylvania, Alaska, Ecuador, Australia, and Costa Rica, and has gained national reputation for her innovative teaching methods. Research by McLaughlin has revealed that problem-centered field experiences enhance the student’s knowledge of biodiversity, increase their basic research skills, and influence how they would make behavioral decisions relative to biodiversity in the future.