TCC Directory

Although I have about 15 years worth of teaching experience at various colleges, I do not nave a "canned" or well-rehearsed routine, though I do lecture from notes. My typical style is to follow the general sequence of your textbook, though I may jump around from time to time. I may include information in lecture that is not necessarily in this text. I like to think that I am telling a story. All the information and understanding must be there in the right order or the story doesn't make any sense. This analogy also fits for teaching. If there are any gaps, students may not fully comprehend the course material.
I welcome questions, and I think that interplay between student and instructor is important to the learning process. It is your responsibility to let me know when there is something that you do not understand, and then I will do my best to clarify the situation for you and the rest of the class. My only request is that you try to keep questions during lecture to those that are related to the topic at hand. If you would like to develop any topic further, please come and see me during my office hours. I will tell you in advance that I probably won't know all of the answers to all of the questions you will ask off the top of my head (no teacher does). If I do not know the answer to a particular question, I will look it up and let you know the answer as soon as possible. I was once told by a fellow instructor that the true meaning of education is "knowing where to look things up." As you progress further in your education, you will find that to be so very true. I will also ask questions of the class from time to time.
I try to incorporate the use of technology in my classes wherever possible. The most common form this takes is the use of PowerPoint during lectures (I like being able to project a picture or diagram and then discuss or describe it). I also maintain a website in support of the courses I teach (http://www.tacomacc.edu/home/galbright/). There you will find all course materials (syllabi, course schedule, lecture presentations, lab introductions, test/quiz descriptions, etc.) as well as links to sites that may prove informative and/or helpful. For those students who have been assigned to me as their advisor (pre-nursing students who are still fulfilling their prerequisite courses to enter a nursing program), there is also an advising page with lots of useful information.

My areas of interest include Paleontology, Evolutionary Biology, Functional morphology, and Human Anatomy & Physiology