ACM/Project Kaleidoscope/FaCE Workshop on Science Education
Grinnell College, December 5-7, 2008
With support from National Science Foundation and the ACM FaCE project, Grinnell College hosted a workshop on December 5-7, 2008, to extend ACM involvement with the Project Kaleidoscope "Pedagogies of Engagement" initiative. The PKAL project aims to strengthen expertise within and across networks committed to adapting, implementing, and assessing research-based approaches that strengthen student learning in STEM (science,technology, engineering, math) fields. This workshop also responds to the long-standing desire of ACM deans and presidents to find ways for ACM colleges to collaborate in supporting excellence in undergraduate science education.
The workshop, running from Friday evening through Sunday noon, ultimately aimed to use regional and national networks to advance tested and effective pedagogies in the STEM disciplines, promoting both faculty and pedagogical development. In this inaugural meeting, campus groups of 3-4 faculty and administrators will work on developing a plan to effectively collaborate using both face-to-face and electronic means.
Workshop Program
The workshop was held December 5 - 7, 2008 (Friday 4 p.m. - Sunday 12 p.m.).
Working Groups
Quantitative Reasoning
This group is developing tools to open the lines of communication among science and other department faculty (where the discipline requires quantitative skills taught by the mathematics departments) and mathematics department faculty, so student learning can be improved in both mathematics and the other departments.
They are developing a forum where ACM mathematicians can request feedback from their peers in other disciplines on activities developed by the mathematicians that draw on those other disciplines. The resulting activities will be shared with the community.
Learning about Learning: Metacognition
This group is exploring current literature on student learning with a focus on identifiying tactics to improve student metacognitive practices. They have formed a reading group and identified a list of key resources which they will collaboratively read and annotate to produce a bibliography useful to educators across the ACM.
Disciplinary Groups Across the ACM
This group will facilitate collaboration between ACM faculty through visits involving both pedagogical and research exchanges. This will lead to cross-fertilization of best practice and a reduction in isolation among our faculty. They have identified an initial set of institutional liaisons They have developed a plan for a faculty exchange program. They will also develop a ACM-wide registry of specialized scientific equipment which has potential for shared use.