Amanda Brock

Brock’s innovative teaching idea, “Under the Sea Investigations,” involves setting up a saltwater aquarium to aide understanding in both Brock’s advance placement (AP) biology and zoology courses. A main concept in any biology-based course is for students to gain an understanding and appreciation for the diversity of life. For AP biology, students will be involved in the establishment and maintenance of a community. They will also have the benefit of observing complex food webs and nutrient cycles. For zoology, students will benefit from distinguishing plants from oceanic animals since many incoming zoology students confuse these animals with plants. Students will also observe an array of body plans, the power of regeneration, and an abundance of reproductive properties. Brock hopes her students will gain a better understanding and appreciation for life with an aquarium than they would through the dissection of specimens.