Graduate Student Learning Community: Active Learning as a Human Endeavor in STEM

This spring, we are offering a learning community for graduate students to explore the research on active learning in STEM and apply it to their teaching through reading, reflection, and discussion. Over the course of five biweekly meetings, we will come together to discuss readings that set the stage for our exploration of the following topics:

• Why is active learning an important element of STEM education?

• How does knowing who our students are, both academically and as individuals, inform an equitable approach to active learning?

• What does equitable and successful active learning look like, and how can we measure that success?

• How can we address external challenges and constraints when implementing active learning without sacrificing rigor or equity?

Our sessions will take place every other week for five, 60-minute sessions, starting the week of February 13th and ending the week of April 10th. The day/time of the sessions will be scheduled based on participant availability. The meetings will be held in person; the location is TBD.

Prior to each session, participants are expected to complete the assigned pre-reading(s) and come prepared to discuss with the group. All readings will be provided. Below is our tentative schedule.

The community will be limited to 12 participants. No prior experience with active learning is required, though participants who have at least a semester of teaching/TAing experience at any level will benefit most from this learning community. Graduate students will be given priority, but, if space allows, motivated undergraduate students with the recommended teaching experience and postdocs are welcome as well.