STEM Education Innovation Programs

Submit a Program Description » The goal of this database is to serve as a searchable collection of effective practices and programs that support improving undergraduate STEM education. Use the text search and the boxes at the right to narrow the collection based on particular aspects that you are interested in.

You can add your own program to the database by completing the database submission form.



Current Search Limits:
Teaching Circles/Learning Communities
Transfer Students

Results 1 - 5 of 5 matches

Enabling Faculty to Adopt Deliberative Democracy Pedagogy: a tool to broaden and engage
Gwen Shusterman, Portland State University
This project has been focused on catalyzing pedagogical innovation in introductory science courses. In particular, structures have been put in place to facilitate the implementation of the model of Deliberative Democracy Pedagogy (DDP). DDP is an active learning strategy, based on deliberative democratic models of citizen engagement in science policymaking. This integrative pedagogical approach, revises the delivery of conventional introductory science content around modules that engage students with current science policy controversies. Teaching teams of faculty and graduate students have attended summer pedagogical workshops, developed curricular modules, implemented the modules and participated in regular Communities of Practice meetings.

Activity Types: Teaching Circles/Learning Communities, Workshops
Program Components: Professional Development:Student Assessment, Curriculum Development, Pedagogical Training, Diversity/Inclusion, Institutional Systems:Incentive/Reward Systems, Interdepartmental Collaboration, Outreach:Outreach to K12 Teachers and Students, Supporting Students:Student Engagement, Outreach:Presentations/Talks, Supporting Students:Professional Preparation
Target Audience: Undergraduate Majors, First-year College Students, Tenured/Tenure-track Faculty, Transfer Students, Non-tenure Track Faculty, Teaching/Learning Assistants, Underrepresented Minority Students, First Generation College Students, Graduate Students
Point of Intervention: Course
Institution Type: Doctorate-granting Universities:Higher Research Activity

UA-AAU STEM Collaborative Learning Spaces Project
Lisa Elfring, The University of Arizona
The Collaborative Learning Spaces Project (CLSP), an extension of the UA AAU Undergraduate STEM Education Project, is a university-wide collaborative effort at the University of Arizona to develop classroom environments that are more suitable for active learning pedagogies than traditional lecture halls. Instructors and their teaching teams who are using these rooms receive training and participate in faculty learning communities (FLCs) to explore best practices and innovative ideas for use of these spaces.

Activity Types: Teaching Circles/Learning Communities, Workshops
Program Components: Professional Development:Diversity/Inclusion, Accessibility, Pedagogical Training, Institutional Systems:Evaluating Teaching, Supporting Students:Student Engagement, Institutional Systems:Physical Infrastructure, Interdepartmental Collaboration, Professional Development:Student Assessment, Course Evaluation
Target Audience: Institution Administration, Tenured/Tenure-track Faculty, Non-tenure Track Faculty, College/University Staff, First-year College Students, Undergraduate Majors, First Generation College Students, Graduate Students, Teaching/Learning Assistants, Transfer Students, Undergraduate Non-Majors, Pre-Service K12 Teachers, English Language Learners, Underrepresented Minority Students
Point of Intervention: Institution
Institution Type: Doctorate-granting Universities:Highest Research Activity

Systemic Transformation of Education through Evidence-based Reform (STEER)
Gerry Meisels, University of South Florida
STEER seeks to create a culture that reflects a strong balance between teaching and research, and values both. STEER promotes the adoption of evidence-based teaching practices in all science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses, especially in the large-enrollment gateway courses. To facilitate systemic change, the University of South Florida (USF) and Hillsborough Community College (HCC) are partnering to offer professional development for faculty and strengthening coordinated student advising, because the number of STEM community college students transferring to USF exceeds the number who began their studies at USF. STEER's comprehensive approach also addresses other factors that may influence students' academic experiences, such as graduate teaching assistant (GTA) training, student advising, course alignment, institutional policies related to teaching, and physical infrastructure such as classroom configuration. This effort is supported in part by the National Science Foundation, grant number DUE1525574.

Activity Types: Teaching Circles/Learning Communities, Workshops
Program Components: Outreach:Inter-Institutional Collaboration, Policy Change, Professional Development:Cultural Competency, Institutional Systems:Incentive/Reward Systems, Professional Development:Curriculum Development, Pedagogical Training, Advising and Mentoring, Diversity/Inclusion, Outreach:Presentations/Talks, Institutional Systems:Evaluating Promotion and Tenure, Supporting Students:Mentoring Program, Student Engagement, Institutional Systems:Evaluating Teaching, Physical Infrastructure, Interdepartmental Collaboration, Strategic Planning
Target Audience: Tenured/Tenure-track Faculty, Non-tenure Track Faculty, College/University Staff, Underrepresented Minority Students, Institution Administration, First-year College Students, Teaching/Learning Assistants, Transfer Students
Point of Intervention: Multiple Institutions
Institution Type: Doctorate-granting Universities:Highest Research Activity

The Peer Learning Association
Jean Heitz, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Peer Learning Association (PLA) is a registered student organization and works with interested faculty in development of peer learning programs tailored to the needs of the students in their courses.

Activity Types: Teaching Circles/Learning Communities
Program Components: Supporting Students:Student Engagement, Learning Communities, Outreach:Informal Education
Target Audience: Underrepresented Minority Students, Transfer Students, Undergraduate Majors
Point of Intervention: Course
Institution Type: Doctorate-granting Universities:Highest Research Activity

College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) Business Partners
Maryalicia Johnson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
UNC Charlotte has the largest number of IT students in the Carolina's and one of the largest in the nation through the College of Computing and Informatics (CCI). Currently, the CCI Business Partners program has nearly 50 companies that work hand-in-hand with the College to provide career prep and workforce readiness to the students. Students work with the Business Partner companies/employers to practice professional development skills, and the result is a robust IT talent pipeline to support the economic development of the whole region.

Activity Types: Conferences, Journal Clubs/Brown Bags , Teaching Circles/Learning Communities, Workshops
Program Components: Institutional Systems:Degree Program Development, Professional Development:Curriculum Development, Diversity/Inclusion, Advising and Mentoring, Supporting Students:Mentoring Program, Student Engagement, Outreach:Marketing Campaign, Informal Education, Supporting Students:Internships, Outreach:Public Outreach, Supporting Students:Scholarships, Grants, Workstudy
Target Audience: Undergraduate Non-Majors, Underrepresented Minority Students, Undergraduate Majors, Transfer Students, First Generation College Students, Graduate Students
Point of Intervention: College/School
Institution Type: Doctorate-granting Universities:Higher Research Activity