Teaching teachers

Dr. Melissa Welsh on 2/18:

This week the PLSC seminar focused on science communication.  With increasing attention being paid to the effectiveness of disseminating scientific findings, this seminar was both timely and stimulating.  Dr. Melissa Welsh started setting up 10 minutes early, hanging up posters of her work and spreading out a series of props as examples of hands-on teaching materials, all while chatting excitedly about her work.  Dr. Melissa Welsh recently joined UME Family and Consumer Science’s Caroline County Office as an Educator. Dr. Welsh is well versed in teaching methodologies for agricultural education.  She received a Ph.D. from Purdue University, where she evaluated science communication and taught young scientists how to teach science. Eliciting interest from the audience on what direction to take during her talk, she focused her discussion on several techniques useful for plant science professionals as they endeavor to share research in the social media age. Her technique of "backward design," where an educator comes to a lowest common denominator with her audience in order to achieve interest and understanding, was found to be particularly useful in our department.  Dr. Welsh left us with fresh ideas and an infusion of enthusiasm to improve our teaching and communication skills.