| | Biomedical Sciences | | | B.S., 1979, Eastern Illinois University | | M.S., 1983, Stephen F. Austin State University | | Ph.D., 1989, St. Louis University | | Research: Science and Pedagogy My research interests have varied over the course of my career in the sciences. My Master’s thesis, A Histological and Ultrastructural Study of the Nephrons of Perognathus hispidus, with Comparisons to Reithrodontomys fulvescens, was a project that entailed comparing the reabsorptive capabilities of the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidneys of two rodent species (one mesic and one xeric) of the southwestern U.S.. The continued pursuit of my graduate work allowed me to study The Incidence of Pathogens of Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Eastern Missouri. As a result of this research, I was able to identify and isolate the pathogenic Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, from two tick species in this region of the Midwest, and report the frequency of infectivity of local ticks with the Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Fever pathogens. In the last few years my research focus has shifted from traditional scientific research to the scholarship of teaching and learning. That is, how do we construct teaching and learning activities in science classrooms that optimize student learning outcomes? My main areas of interest include, but are not limited to: 1) case study writing and teaching, 2) teaching/learning via study abroad experiences, 3) implementing classroom assessment techniques, and 4) teaching large classes more effectively. Representative publications: • Markowitz, L. and Santanello, C. 2006. Ecotourism: Who Benefits? The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/ubcase.htm. • Poirier, T., Santanello, C., and Gupchup, G. 2006. Building a Community of Learners: Laying the Foundations with a Weeklong New Orientation Program. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. • Santanello, C. and Wolff, L. 2006. Designing an Assessable Study Abroad Course. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. • Pomerantz, A., Santanello, C., and Kirn, K. 2006. Confidentiality in Classroom Assessment Activities: Lessons from Psychotherapy. Assessment Update: Progress, Trends, and Practices in Higher Education. • Santanello, C. and Hildebrandt, M. 2005. The Use of Critical Incident Cases in Classrooms. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 9 (4), pp. 28-32. • Feir, D., Santanello, C., Li, B., Xie, C., Masters, E., Marconi, R. and Weil, Gary. 1994. Evidence Supporting the Presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Missouri. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 51(4), pp. 199-204. Representative presentations: • Hand, G. & Santanello, C. 2006. The Power of Laughter in the Classroom: How to Keep Fun from Getting Lost in All of the Theory. Plenary session: 31st Annual Conference on Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, Portland, OR. • Santanello, C., Hay, M., & Stygar, L. 2005. Learning from the Student Experience: Assessment on the First Day of Class and Throughout the Semester, 25th Annual Conference of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. |
