Brandon Lunk

Associate Professor of Instruction

Texas State University

Physics

Pedagogical Methods Used

Peer Instruction / Think-Pair-Share, Collaborative problem-solving, Conceptually-oriented activities, Project-based learning, SCALE-UP / studio / workshop physics, Mathematically-focused activities, Tutorials, Just-in-time Teaching, Computationally-focused activities

Life Sciences Focus

I teach an IPLS sequence heavily inspired by the NEXUS curriculum. Semester 1 focusses on skeletal and muscular structures; fluids and vascular networks; and chemical energy, thermodynamics, and entropy. Semester 2 focusses on randomness and diffusion; the eye; molecular resonance, fluorescence, and photosynthesis; and neural activity. I also teach biophysics where I focus on both biomechanics and probabilistic modeling.

Education Research and Pedagogy Expertise

I have extensive experience teaching with SCALE-UP, clickers, Matter & Interactions, Washington Tutorials, and Learning Assistants. I also have experience teaching computational modeling (though not in an IPLS course).

Describe the courses that you teach for life sciences students

My IPLS sequence heavily draws from the NEXUS curriculum.

What is your approach to teaching physics for life science students?

From a content standpoint: I draw from the NEXUS curriculum to heavily feature biological case studies and physics of particular biological importance (e.g. fluids and diffusion). From a pedagogical standpoint: My courses make extensive use of research validated methods, including student-centered class work, SCALE-UP, Tutorial-style activities, clickers, and Learning Assistants.