CCNY Biologist Sally Hoskins Honored for Research on Teaching

City College of New York Professor of Biology Sally Hoskins is the 2013 recipient of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Research in Biology Education Award. The honor, sponsored by Leica Microsystems and Pearson Benjamin Cummings, recognizes creativity and innovation in research related to undergraduate biology teaching.

Since 2003, Professor Hoskins has been developing a pedagogy know as C.R.E.A.T.E. in collaboration with Dr. Leslie M. Stevens, a University of Texas geneticist, and Dr. Kristy Kenyon, a developmental biologist at the Hobart and William Smith Colleges. C.R.E.A.T.E. is an acronym for Consider, Read, Elucidate hypotheses, Analyze and interpret the data and Think of the next Experiment.

The methodology teaches students how to critically read scientific papers, and, at the same time, humanizes the scientific process. Research has documented that students who have taken classes where C.R.E.A.T.E. method is used have demonstrated improved critical thinking skills and ability to read and analyze scientific literature. In addition, they expressed more favorable attitudes toward science and scientists.

The award comes with a $500 stipend that will be presented at an Honors Luncheon during the NABT annual conference, November 20 – 23, in Atlanta. In addition, Professor Hoskins will present a talk about C.R.E.A.T.E. during the conference.

On the Internet

• Professor Hoskins
• New Teaching Method Developed at CCNY Improves Undergraduate Students’ Skills, Attitudes Toward Science
• C.R.E.A.T.E.