Bridging the gap: Innovations in teaching entomology to biology majors in a nonorganismal-focused department

This presentation explores innovative strategies for teaching entomology within a biology department primarily focused on molecular and cell biology, where organismal biology has historically received less attention. This session highlights the creative approach taken to engage students and foster deep learning by addressing the challenge of introducing entomology after a hiatus of over two decades. Utilizing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) activities and group-oriented teaching methods instead of traditional lectures, the course was designed to stimulate active participation and collaboration among students. Moreover, a leadership-focused framework was integrated into course materials and activities to enhance students' holistic learning experiences. Notably, despite the absence of a conventional teaching insect collection, students collaborated to construct collections as part of group projects, while also having the opportunity to pursue individual research projects involving live insects. The presentation concludes with insights into the outcomes of these teaching strategies, including student performance and feedback, highlighting the efficacy of a student-centered approach to entomology education in non-organismal-focused academic environments.