Marilyn Akins
Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics

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I have come full-circle, having graduated from SUNY Cortland with a B. S. and M. S. in Math/Physics (secondary education) from Cortland.  After teaching at a local community college for 10 years, I went back to school and received my Ph.D. from Cornell University.  Then I went back to teaching various physics, math, computer, and physical science courses.

While at Cornell, my research centered on student learning of physics.  Specifically, I looked at how students solve physics problems, comparing their problem-solving behaviors to expert problem solving processes.  I looked at characteristics that successful students have and how instructors can help all their students develop some of the expert techniques and also be more successful in physics courses.  I have worked to apply these ideas in my classrooms.

While away from Cortland, I continued to occasionally work with members of the faculty.  I was part of the project team working on the NSF grant “Restructuring Math/Science/Pedagogy Experiences for Pre K-6 Teachers.” The purpose of that grant was to develop new curricular materials in the math/science areas for elementary education majors that emphasize hands-on learning and constructivist principles. The ultimate goal of that grant was to improve the teaching of mathematics and science in the elementary schools.  Since then, I have spent numerous semesters teaching one of the courses developed by that grant.

Teaching astronomy on-line has been a great learning experience for me.  I have worked with three different platforms for on-line or supplemental materials.  The SUNY Learning Network (SLN) used Lotus Notes , and  I have also worked in Web CT and Blackboard.

I have developed new course materials for many of the courses I teach and seem to continually revise everything.  Most recently, I co-wrote a new astronomy lab book and made major revisions to a Physics I lab manual.  I have also authored Power Point lecture slides that are now included with the instructor’s ancillary materials for various physics textbooks.

At Cortland, I will be involved in Astronomy and various physics courses. I am excited to be able to work in Web CT 6 to supplement the astronomy course.

When not teaching, I enjoy reading and various types of needlework.  My husband and I spend a lot of time on the road searching for (mainly dead) ancestors and visiting my daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters in Kentucky.

Marilyn Akins
Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
Office: Bowers Hall 126
Phone: 607-753-5670
E-mail: marilyn.akins@cortland.edu

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