Bre-Anna Owusu
Teaching Portfolio
McMaster University
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, CA L8S 4L8
Email: kingb10@mcmaster.ca
Brief Biography
What began with instructing piano lessons to individuals of all ages over the past 13 years, evolved into a passion for scholarly educational development and the implementation of experiential learning in higher education. As a Ph.D. candidate in the interdisciplinary Neuroscience graduate program at McMaster University, I have relished the opportunity to instruct as a teaching assistant and a sessional instructor in several Life Sciences courses. I have further developed, designed, and instructed my own course on Music and the Mind. Cognitive Neuroscience and experiential learning have been the major focus of my instruction—while always considering culturally relevant and responsive approaches.
Teaching Development
The COVID-19 pandemic created unexpected challenges and changes in the way instructors teach in higher education. Such challenges have rapidly altered the way in which lectures are delivered, assessments are handled and how courses are designed. Although this pivot in teaching modality has been difficult for both educators and learners, this time has been used to critically think about the classroom environment that I am responsible for creating.
Teaching Experience
Millennials, Music & the Mind (EXPLORE 3IE1) 1 unit undergraduate-level, Sessional Faculty Appointment, McMaster University, Fall 2019 (Revised Outline)
Life Sciences Applied Placement (LIFESCI 3EP3/4EP6)
3 units, 6 units undergraduate-level, with Dr. Sunita Nadella, McMaster University, Fall 2018–2022 (Syllabus)
Life Sciences Research Practicum (LIFESCI 3RP3)
3 units undergraduate-level, with Dr. Sunita Nadella, McMaster University, Fall 2018–2022 (Syllabus)
Independent Study (LIFESCI 4A03)
3 units undergraduate-level, with Dr. Sunita Nadella, McMaster University, Fall 2018–2022 (Syllabus)
Independent Thesis (LIFESCI 4B09/4C12/4D15)
9 units, 12 units, 15 units undergraduate-level, with Dr. Sunita Nadella, McMaster University, Fall 2018–2022 (Syllabus)