Judy Klimek

Clinical Professor of

Anatomy and Histology

DVM, Purdue University, 1988
MS, Purdue University, 1996

Phone: 785-532-4740
Email: jklimek@vet.k-state.edu

Teaching

I am course coordinator for Veterinary Comparative Embryology (lecture) and Gross Anatomy II (lecture and lab), and I am also involved in teaching Microscopic Anatomy (lecture and lab), Gross Anatomy I (lab) and Neuroscience (lab). I deliver lectures using computer presentation software. I have produced two instructional modules for use in the student computer laboratory, and videotapes for external palpation of the dog and horse. I have produced many digital images and illustrations of horses, cattle and laboratory specimens for use in our equine and ruminant dissection guides and in presentations. I use K-State Online for Embryology and Gross Anatomy II, including online assignments and quizzes, virtual office hours using the chat function, archiving of course presentations, online grade book, and student work groups. My course materials are also available to the students through the CVM intranet.

In the context of the embryology course I have attempted over the past two years to make my teaching more learner-centered and to use course activities to promote students' metacognition about their learning, and help them develop as self-directed learners. Activities toward that goal that I have incorporated into the embryology course (for extra credit and/or as suggestions to the students for improved learning) include Classroom Assessment Techniques, use of pauses during presentations for students to review their notes, collaborative exams and quizzes, reflective papers, examination study plans, construction of crib sheets for exams, assigning students to work groups with dedicated online collaboration tools, and allowing students to write exam questions.

Scholarly Interests

My scholarly interests lie in the area of development and evaluation of educational techniques employed for gross and microscopic anatomy. I am particularly interested in developing instructional techniques that will assist those students who have difficulty visualizing anatomy in three dimensions and visualizing anatomy from different perspectives, and in promoting active learning in large classes. I have been awarded two Big 12 Faculty Fellowships to collaborate with Texas A&M faculty in the development of ways to represent anatomical structures three-dimensionally via the computer, such as QuickTime Virtual Reality movies of specimens.

I have also been studying the relationship between spatial ability and performance in gross anatomy. Veterinarians require good spatial anatomical understanding, and increasing use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging require veterinarians to have even greater spatial understanding of anatomy than in the past. Spatial ability might predict those students who will have difficulty in gross anatomy. I collected data on spatial ability and performance in anatomy, and found a statistically significant correlation between low spatial ability and low scores in anatomy, particularly for laboratory exam scores. Men had statistically significant higher average spatial ability than women, and spatial ability of women improved significantly between September and April. Male and female performances in anatomy did not differ significantly, yet ninety-six percent of students in the bottom 20% of the spatial ability range were women. It may be feasible to identify students at risk for poor performance in gross anatomy through spatial testing, and provide methods for improving their skills. I am continuing this line of investigation.

Programs and Projects

I was the coordinator of the Faculty Exchange for Teaching Excellence (http://www.k-state.edu/catl/facultyexchange.htm) from 2001-2004, and currently serve on its Advisory Committee. The Faculty Exchange for Teaching Excellence plans and hosts teaching-related workshops and seminars for faculty on campus. We bring in two or three outside guest speakers for Swap Sessions each year and typically host several other sessions presented by local faculty. For the past several years the Faculty Exchange has planned an annual campus teaching retreat held in January.

I was involved for three years in the KSU Peer Review of Teaching Project, part of a larger project led by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln since January 1999. This was a very rewarding experience, as I have had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of KSU faculty, get valuable insights into the teaching and learning process. During this time, I developed two course portfolios, and I was profiled in the Peer Review News. I was also able to share my experiences with interested faculty during a trip to Texas A&M University in July 2000. I currently serve as a mentor for new faculty participating in the project.

Professional memberships

American Association of Anatomists

American Association of Veterinary Anatomists

American Educational Research Association

International Society for Plastination

Kansas Veterinary Medical Association

National Association for Research in Science Teaching

Phi Zeta

Purdue Alumni Association

Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association

Sigma Xi

World Association of Veterinary Anatomists

Invited Presentations

Your Students Can Listen, But Do They Know How to Learn? Techniques to Help Students Become Reflective and Active Learners. Presented to the graduate student seminar course, Purdue University Department of Basic Medical Sciences, March 21, 2004.

Gross anatomy education in veterinary medicine. Invited speaker for education symposium, annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists, New Orleans, LA, April 2002.

Are spatial ability and gender related to performance in gross anatomy? Provo, J. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Boston, MA, July 2001.

Using peer consultation on teaching and course portfolios to improve the scholarship of teaching: an interdisciplinary project. Provo, J. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Boston, MA, July 2001.

Documenting the scholarship of teaching: personal experiences with peer consultation on teaching and portfolio development. Presented at Department of Anatomy and Public Health, Texas A&M University, July 21, 2000.

Teaching three-dimensional thinking in gross anatomy. Presented at Texas A&M University Department of Anatomy and Public Health, May 1999.

International Presentations:

Relationship between spatial ability and anatomy performance in four successive classes: a research update. J.A. Klimek, and W.C. Cash. Presentation at the annual meeting of the World Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Knoxville, TN, July 2003.

Use of student-prepared Rapid Adhesive Mediated Procedure microscopy slides to integrate teaching of gross and microscopic anatomy: technique update. J.A. Klimek, G. Dobkin and D.L. Troyer. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the World Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Knoxville, TN, July 2003.

National Presentations

Anatomy Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century. J.A. Klimek. Chair of panel discussion at the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Minneapolis, MN, July 2005.

Using classroom assessment techniques to increase active learning and get feedback on learning in a veterinary anatomy lecture. J.A. Klimek. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Minneapolis, MN, July 2005.

Integration of gross and microscopic anatomy learning using a new tissue slide preparation technique. J.A. Provo-Klimek, D.L. Troyer and M.L. Weiss. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. New Orleans, LA, April 2002.

Relationship of spatial ability and gender to performance in veterinary gross anatomy. J. Provo-Klimek, W. Cash. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching, St. Louis, March 2001.

Relationship of student spatial ability and gender to performance in veterinary gross anatomy. J.A.Provo, W.C.Cash. Presented at the AAVA annual meeting, San Diego, CA, April 15, 2000.

Changing demographics of veterinary private practice. J.A.Provo. Presented at the AAVA annual meeting, San Diego, CA, April 15, 2000.

Visualization of anatomical structures in live animals: Survey results. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, Baton Rouge, LA, July 1999.

Spatial ability, gender, and the ability to visualize anatomy in three dimensions. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. San Diego, CA, April 16, 1998.

The effect of examination of a cross section on students' ability to visualize anatomy in three dimensions. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists. Manhattan, KS, July 17-19, 1997.

Local Presentations

Becoming a Veterinarian. Presented twice at Washburn Rural High School for the Presidential Lecture Series, March 2005 and November 2005.

Introduction to the Curriculum. Presented annually at the first-year orientation and at the Kind Hearts, Caring Hands CVM Weekend, Kansas State University.

Mission Possible: Designing Electronic Presentations That Work. Presented at the Kansas State Teaching Renewal Retreat, January 10, 2005.

Using Classroom Assessment Techniques to Improve Teaching and Learning. Presented at the Kansas State Teaching Renewal Retreat, January 10, 2005.

How I Became a Veterinary Anatomist. Presented for the Presidential Lecture Series at Junction City High School, Junction City, Kansas. November 10, 2004.

Classroom Assessment: Formative Evaluation the Fun Way. Presented at the Kansas State Teaching Renewal Retreat, Rock Springs Center, January 20, 2004.

Teaching at Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. Presented to the accreditation site visit team, Kansas State University, March 2003.

Equine Lameness and its Anatomical Correlation: Normal and Abnormal Hoof Anatomy. Presented at the National Pre-Veterinary Symposium, Kansas State University, March 23, 2002.

Basic Camelid Anatomy. Presented at the National Pre-Veterinary Symposium, Kansas State University, March 23, 2002.

Equine Lameness and its Anatomical Correlation: Normal and Abnormal Hoof Anatomy. Gaughan, E. & Provo, J. Presented at the Annual Conference for Veterinarians, Manhattan, KS. June 2001.

Faculty Exchange for Teaching Excellence Swap Session: The Course Portfolio. Presented with Steve Kiefer and Betsy Cauble. Kansas State University, April 13, 2001.

Presentation of anatomical teaching methods to Congressman Jim Ryun, Kansas State University. July 5, 2000.

Faculty Exchange for Teaching Excellence Swap Session: Peer Consultation. Panel member. Kansas State University. June 1999.

Selected Publications

Provo-Klimek, J., and Troyer, D.L. (2002). Use of a novel method for preparing histology slides to integrate the teaching of gross and microscopic anatomy. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 29(3): 137-141.

Troyer, D. L., Cash, W. C., Provo-Klimek, J. and Kennedy, G. A. (2002). A novel method for preparing histology slides without a microtome. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia, 31:129-131.

Provo, J.A., Lamar, C.H., & Newby, T.J (2002). Using a cross section to train veterinary students to visualize anatomical structures in three dimensions. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39(2):10-34.