Something Huge nets, with College of Agriculture and Life Science students attached to them, line up outside an idling bus. It’s a hot day, so sticky palms grab hips and social conversation buzzes.
After a short ride, students pile out of the bus and catch bugs and then put them in jars with cyanide on the lid. These College of Agriculture and Life Science (CALS) students are adding specimens to the University’s bug collection.
“We go on field trips to go catch bugs for the bug collection in Entomology 425,” Jana Almond, a junior in zoology, said.
This is just one of many things students do to make the classroom environment more fun and interesting. A large part of these multifaceted activities depends upon instruction, and N.C. State is well-known for its ability to think outside of the box.
“The quality of any academic program is only as good as the faculty that comprises it,” Dr. Ken Esbenshade, the associate dean and director of academic programs, said. “Our faculty is nationally and internationally recognized for their teaching, research and extension activities.”
Assistant Professor Melissa Ashwell helps students in her genetics class learn by having students work problems in groups. She also uses a Jeopardy-style game to help review for exams.
“This is interactive for the students, which helps them pay attention and gives them a fun way to learn or review information they need for the exam,” she said.
Labs and field trips like the entomology one help students learn theory.
“For Soil Science we took a field trip out in the woods to check out soil layers,” Ruth Brim, a junior in biological engineering, said. “I thought that was fun. It made what we were studying more alive. In that sense, it made what we were learning easier to learn and helped my GPA.”
Jared Johnson, a junior in biological engineering and agricultural business management, went to a farm show his freshman year.
“All we did was look at tractors, which was fine for me, you know, seeing as how I want to make them,” he says.
Sight, smell and touch aren’t the only senses utilized in these classes, however. The Muscle Foods and Eggs class in poultry science cures a ham.
“At the end of the semester we get to have them,” Doug White, a senior in poultry science, said. “The poultry science degree requires [this class]. We talk about how meat is processed, different cuts of meat and USDA grading. We also talk about what you can do to make the meat tender after an animal is dead.”
If a person has the stomach for it, labs where one dissects animals can be the best part about a zoology degree.
“I’ve gotten to dissect pig, shark, squid, fish, earthworm, grasshopper, sheep brain, cow eye and crayfish. I also tested the plasma concentration in cockroaches,” Almond said.
While other students are sitting at their desks, muddling through another lecture, these students are getting involved with hands-on experiences that bring the lessons to life.
