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AAU Undergraduate STEM Initiative Tobin Smith AAU Vice President for Policy Slide 2 Mission Statement The goal of the AAU Undergraduate STEM Education Initiative is to help influence change in the culture of STEM departments at AAU universities so that they will use evidence-based, student- centered, active, sustainable pedagogy in their classes, particularly at the freshman and sophomore levels. Slide 3 The Motivation The Five Minute University Slide 4 Rationale Workforce needs Competitiveness Desire for a scientifically-literate population New scholarship on what works in the classroom: evidence-based teaching methods Several AAU institutions are already at the forefront of improving STEM undergraduate education Slide 5 Problem Completion Broad based literacy Research universities dont produce as many STEM majors as other colleges and universities Slide 6 Key Components Framework (Goal #1) Demonstration Projects (Goal #2) Incentives (Goals #3 and #4) Promising Practices (Goal #5) Slide 7 Framework [Goal #1] What is the Framework? A taxonomy of evidence-based practices that can be used to improve STEM teaching and to measure these improvements. Core Component Pedagogy Who will use it? The framework is designed to be used by several different stakeholders including: Faculty Administrators Departments Institutions How will it be used? The framework is usable along several dimensions: To improve teaching and learning in the classroom To coordinate courses within the department To determine how broadly evidence-based techniques are being used Slide 8 Out with the old Slide 9 In with the new Slide 10 Demonstration Projects [Goal #2] A subset of AAU institutions will be identified to serve as demonstration sites that will implement the framework. Activities will include developing tools to measure: The quality of teaching and learning in STEM classes How evidence-based teaching methods are being used The effects of improved teaching on STEM and Non-STEM majors Vs. Slide 11 Incentives [Goals #3 and#4] F EDERAL I NSTITUTIONAL Work with federal agencies on mechanisms to encourage good teaching Explore institutional and departmental incentives for good teaching Including: Working with HHMI and others on promising practices for evaluating teaching in promotion and tenure Slide 12 Promising Practices [Goal #5] To develop effective means for sharing information about promising & effective undergraduate STEM programs, approaches, and methods. Key Projects Promising Practices Resource Booklet & Workshop Program Evaluation Techniques Slide 13 Other Parallel Efforts Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU) Business Higher-Education Forum (BHEF) Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) Bay View Alliance (BVA) Many others Slide 14 Complementary Reports Presidents Council of Advisors on Science & Technology (PCAST): Engage to Excel Report National Research Council (NRC): Discipline- Based Education Research Report (Expected mid- 2012) Slide 15 Discussion and Q&A