Senior Lecturer and Member of the Graduate Faculty

College of Natural Resources, 377 TNR
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI  54481
dginnett@uwsp.edu     (715) 346 - 4183

University of California, Davis, CA - Graduate Group in Ecology 

Reed College, Portland, OR

TEACHING:

I am an experienced online educator with expertise in faculty support for online instruction, student-centered curriculum development, diverse student populations (adult learners, ethnic minority, at-risk, gifted and talented) and authentic assessment.  As a science educator, I have extensive teaching experience at the post-secondary and secondary levels and as a graduate instructor for K-12 teachers in the Masters in Environmental Education program at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP).

Currently, I hold several part-time positions:  1) Senior Lecturer for University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) in the College of Natural Resources and the M.S. in Environmental Education program, 2) Senior Lecturer for University of Wisconsin-Marathon County in the Geography and Geology Department, 3) Online Instructor for Middle School Science courses (6th, 7th , 8th grade) for Wisconsin Virtual High School (CESA 9, Tomahawk, WI), and 4) Online Learning Center Advisor for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

Since 2004, I have developed four fully online graduate courses for the M. S. in Environmental Education program (UWSP) as a Curriculum Design Consultant. The beauty of eLearning for the professional K-12 educator audience is that teachers can access courses remotely.  Thus, they can continue progress toward their Masters degrees while working in their classrooms during the school year.  Online learning provides a flexible and self-paced learning environment.  In addition, online learning at the 6 - 12th grade level offers important educational outreach to rural, at-risk, home-schooled and Gifted and Talented students.

In the future, I look forward to continuing my professional development in educational technology and enhancing my curriculum development with emerging technology applications.

TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS:

Wisconsin Initial Educator License (7/10 - 6/15):  

Environmental Studies (615), Biology/Life Science (605), and Broadfield Science (601). 

         Age Range: Early Adolescence to Adolescence (age 10-21).

Online Teacher Training Certification (2006).  Wisconsin Virtual School - Wisconsin Web Academy,

Wisconsin Educator Training Program:  Project Teaching

Wisconsin Technical College System (11/26/08 - 8/31/11): 

Teacher of Science (Provisional Certification)

Teacher of Approved Instructional Areas:  Computer Basics and Mathematics.

District Teaching Permit, Texas Education Agency (1997)

Field :  Science.  Age Range:  Grades 9 - 12

COURSES TAUGHT: 

Secondary Science Courses:

Advanced Placement Biology 

General Biology                      

Environmental Education              

Comprehensive Natural Science   

Physics

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Physical Science

Organic and Biochemistry              

Health

GED Science Preparation

8th Grade Science (Life Science & Earth Science

Online Instruction (Secondary Level):

Advanced Placement Environmental Science Wisconsin Virtual School (WVS)

Middle School Science (6th, 7th 8th)  Wisconsin Virtual School (WVS)

College Science Courses:

Ecology

Environmental Conservation

Ecological Basis of Natural Resource Management

People, Resources and the Biosphere

Biology (majors)                               

Biology (non-majors)

Wildlife Management Techniques

Wildlife Diseases

Zoology

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Animal Physiology

Mammalian Biology and Ecology

Independent Study

Issues in Biology Seminar Topics

Animal Physiology Seminar Topics

M.S. in Environmental Education:

Ecological Basis for Environmental Education

Wildlife Issues Investigations

Prairie Chicken Conservation and Courtship

Wildlife Field Trip

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Online Instruction for M.S. in Environmental Education:

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Wildlife Issues Investigations

Ecological Basis for Environmental Education

Environmental Science for Educators

SCHOLARSHIP:

Faculty scholarship is vital to continuing professional development, interaction with colleagues and a successful academic career.  Academic scholarship involves active engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning.  I actively strive to enhance my skills and knowledge of the best practices in science and technology education.  I enjoy creative curriculum development that applies my knowledge of learning theory and my classroom and online teaching experience to diverse student populations.  An emphasis on professionalism and ethics is also incorporated into my instruction.  In addition, student mentoring student is an integral component of my research effort.

Summary of Research on Heartworm in WI Canids:

My current research scholarship emphasis is in wildlife disease ecology. In 2001, I established an active applied research program that focused on canine heartworm disease in Wisconsin wolves, coyotes and foxes.  This research effort required extensive partnership building with regional and national scientific colleagues, government agencies and the public sector.

The canine heartworm study focused on basic research questions related to the impact of disease on the recovering timber wolf population, the role of coyotes as disease reservoir species, and the implications of this disease for long-term timber wolf management in Wisconsin.  In addition, the preliminary data is already yielding valuable applied information for veterinarians regarding the relative risk of heartworm infection to domestic dogs in Wisconsin.

I am currently finalizing my analysis on this wildlife disease research project and will be submitting a professional paper in the near future. 

Acknowledgements:

Research collaborators include: Adrian Wydeven, John F. Olson, and the many researchers and canine trappers affiliated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Dr. Michael Samuels and M.S. candidate Cherrie Nolden at the Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit in Madison, WI and Dr. Jerold H. Theis, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, an expert on canine heartworm infection.

I extend my thanks to the many University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student volunteers who have contributed greatly to the canine heartworm project.  My appreciation also extends to the many public volunteers from The Wisconsin Trappers Association and The Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association who have participated in sample collection efforts for this research.

Canine Heartworm Project (this research website link is under construction, January 2011)

Black Bear Parasite Project  (this research website link is under construction, January 2011)

Recent Publication:
Ginnett, D. A., J. H. Theis, and J. J. Kaneko. 2003. Spontaneous Gallstone

Formation in Deer Mice: Interaction of Cholesterol, Bile Acids, and Dietary Fiber. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 39 (1): 105-113.

This publication was the result of my graduate research which focused on gallstone prevalence in wild deer mice in Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge (Klamath Basin Refuge Complex) in northern California.  Additional research focused on the impacts of anti-cholinesterase pesticides on this deer mouse population.

Webpage last updated January 6, 2011.