Melody J. Neumann
Professor, Teaching Stream
Campus
St. George (downtown)
CSB Appointment
Full, Teaching
Research Areas
Science Pedagogy
Education
Ph.D. University of Sydney Australia 2000
M.Sc. University of British Columbia 1994
Titles and Honors
Director, Human Biology Program
University of Toronto President’s Teaching Award 2022
Online Learning Academy Fellow, Faculty of Arts and Science 2020-2021
Society of Teaching and Learning In Higher Education D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning 2020
European e-Learning Excellence Award (2nd place) November 2019
IMS Global Learning Consortium 3rd Annual App Challenge (First place, Institutional App category) 2016
Faculty of Arts and Science Dean’s Outstanding Teaching Award 2015
Primary Undergraduate Department
Cell & Systems Biology
Graduate Programs
Cell & Systems Biology
Developmental Biology
Research Description
At the departmental level, my research is focussed on developing and evaluating methods to improve undergraduate learning in cell and molecular biology. I am interested in using innovative and evidence-based teaching practices in my courses. Some examples include: development of online, hybrid, and ‘inverted’ classes based on peer-reviewed and evidence-based practices; the creation of animations for complex cellular mechanisms; effective use of clickers and Instant Feedback Assessment Testing (IFAT); team-based learning methodologies; assignments and tools to help students improve written and oral communication skills; and investigative labs using modern technologies and current research questions. I am involved in pedagogical research with faculty in Chemistry, Physics, Centre for the Environment, Geology, and Human Biology, which is used to inform the wider UofT community about teaching in the sciences. Most recently, we have been studying student and instructor uses/expectations of use of textbooks in science courses. I am also interested in improving the teaching of biology across Ontario and together with colleagues at various institutions (through the Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators or oCUBE) regularly share and disseminate innovative and evidence-based teaching practices and research. oCUBE members also work on multi-institutional research related to teaching biology.
Contact Information
Office Phone: 416-978-5551
Office: RW206c
Lab: BIO130/BIO230/BIO255/CSB34
Email
Mailing Address
Department of Cell & Systems Biology
University of Toronto
25 Harbord St.
Toronto, ON M5S 3G5
Canada
Recent News
Publications
Neumann, Melody. 2019. Team Up!: The use of student teams in online or large hybrid classes improves course outcomes. In 5th e-Learning Excellence Awards 2019: An Anthology of Case Histories, edited by Dan Remenyi. Academic Conferences and Publishing International. Pg. 109-117.
French M., Neumann M. and Taverna, F. 2019. Teaming up to re-imagine undergraduate education. In The Scholarship of Leading: Mini-Cases of Educational Leadership in Action. Rolheiser, C., Carbone, A., Macnab, E., & Ye, J. (Eds.). Toronto, ON: Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation, University of Toronto. https://teaching.utoronto.ca/sotl/scholarship-of-leading/ and also available at http://aautn.org/resources/
Taverna, F., Neumann, M. & French, M. 2019. Innovating the Large Class Experience: Teaming Up! to enhance learning. In G. Marks (Ed.), Proceedings of Global Learn 2019-Global Conference on Learning and Technology (pp. 144-147). Princeton-Mercer, New Jersey: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved September 11, 2020 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/210299/.
Kajiura, L, Smith J, Montpetit C, Kelly T, Waugh J, Rawle F, Clark J, Neumann M, and French M. 2014. Knowledge mobilization across boundaries with the use of novel organizational structures, conferencing strategies, and technological tools: The Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators (oCUBE) Model. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching 7 (1): 19-25. https://www.lovayekajiura.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2014-CELT-oCUBE.pdf
Neumann, M., Bank, C., Browning, S., Clarke, J., Harlow, J., Harrison, D., Ing, K., Kushnir, L., Kutas, C., Pitre, J., Serbanescu, R., Wall, M., & Wilson, R. 2008. Serial team teaching and the evolving scholarship of learning: Students’ perspective. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching 1: 28-34.
Neumann, M. and N. Provart. 2006. Using customized tools and databases for teaching Bioinformatics in introductory biology courses. In: Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching: Proceedings of the 27th Annual Association for Biology Laboratory Education June 21-25, 2005, edited by Michael A. O’Donnell, pp. 321-328.
2015
Textbook Use in the Sciences and Its Relation to Course Performance
French M, Taverna F, Neumann M, Paulo Kushnir L, Harlow J, Harrison D, Serbanescu R
2015, College Teaching, 10.1080/87567555.2015.1057099
2011
Localization of DIR1 at the tissue, cellular and subcellular levels during Systemic Acquired Resistance in Arabidopsis using DIR1:GUS and DIR1:EGFP reporters
Champigny MJ, Shearer H, Mohammad A, Haines K, Neumann M, Thilmony R, He SY, Fobert P, Dengler N, Cameron RK
2011, BMC plant biology, 11, 125, 21896186
2009
Forward and reverse genetics to identify genes involved in the age-related resistance response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Carviel JL, Al-Daoud F, Neumann M, Mohammad A, Provart NJ, Moeder W, Yoshioka K, Cameron RK
2009, Molecular plant pathology, 10, 621-34, 19694953
2006
Characterization of the glyoxalase I gene from the vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae
Klimes A, Neumann MJ, Grant SJ, Dobinson KF
2006, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 10.1139/w06-033
2005
Age-related resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato is associated with the transition to flowering in Arabidopsis and is effective against Peronospora parasitica
Rusterucci C, Zhao Z, Haines K, Mellersh D, Neumann M, Cameron R
2005, Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 10.1016/j.pmpp.2005.08.004
Root diseases in bareroot and container nurseries of the Pacific Northwest: epidemiology, management, and effects on outplanting performance
Dumroese RK, James RL
2005, New Forests, 10.1007/s11056-005-4422-7
2004
Genetic structure of populations of Fusarium proliferatum in soils associated with Livistona mariae palms in Little Palm Creek, Northern Territory, Australia
Neumann MJ, Backhouse D, Carter DA, Summerell BA, Burgess LW
2004, Australian Journal of Botany, 10.1071/BT03158