Improving STEM Education Together

We know that the use of evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs), defined as strategies used to promote student learning in addition to lecture, improve STEM student outcomes, but their usage is still infrequent (Stains et al, 2018). Even if you as an individual instructor or you as a program are using EBIPs already, it may be difficult to document the benefits that they are accruing. Or perhaps you are not yet using EBIPs and want to gain the skill set to do so effectively. In either case, we will help you adopt EBIPs, document the positive benefits from using EBIPs, and celebrate your commitment to improving student outcomes at your institution. Let’s work on improving STEM education together.

The Use of EBIPs Improve STEM Student Outcomes

Whether it be the syllabus, a single lesson, or an entire course, using EBIPs and having a student-centered teaching philosophy improve STEM student outcomes and are therefore a potent strategy to recruit new students, improve student performance, increase student retention, and fix the “leaky pipeline” in STEM. EBIPs at the lesson level, such as the vast variety of active learning techniques, have been shown to improve student learning across STEM. EBIPs at the course level, including high structure course design, also reduce or close performance gaps that exist between historically well-represented vs under-represented students in STEM. When tailored to your own specific institution and instructional situation, you will be able to use EBIPs to help your STEM students successfully navigate your program and achieve exceptional career goals.

LEARN MORE

Ian Kelley

CEO

Alberta Clarke

Support Staff

The Approach

We will work with you on a three-step process to initially evaluate your program’s level of EBIP adoption, to provide professional development strategies and events for you and your faculty on EBIP adoption, and finally to re-assess and document the positive impacts that have resulted from this process. All steps of the process are fully customizable to your situation and program and will work in any STEM discipline.

Baseline Evaluation

We begin the process by using reliable and validated instruments published in the STEM education literature to determine the levels of EBIP and student-centered pedagogy adoption by your faculty in your program. We also determine the types and extents of performance gaps, if any, that exist in your courses and program.

Professional Development

Once we know the strengths and opportunities for improvement in your program and courses, we will develop and implement a tailored and specific professional development approach to enact positive changes with you and your faculty which will lead to improved student outcomes for your program.

Follow-Up Assessment

Finally, we will follow-up and repeat the baseline assessment to document the positive changes that have occurred due to the professional development around EBIPs and student-centered pedagogies and the incorporation of them into your courses. You will be able to use this evidence to promote and celebrate your program’s efforts to improve your students’ outcomes.

Professional Development

Justin applies his extensive 12+ year experience in the classroom as a STEM teaching professor, his skills in discipline-based education research studying course design and active learning, and his enthusiasm for working with faculty and future faculty to partner with you on professional development opportunities to learn about EBIPs and how they can transform your program, faculty, and student outcomes.

Ian Kelley

CEO

Alberta Clarke

Support Staff

Let’s Work Together

Reach out to Justin to schedule a time to chat about ways to partner to improve STEM outcomes in your program. Whether you are starting from scratch with adopting EBIPs and documenting the impacts of EBIPs or have established methods in place, Justin will be able to help you positively transform your program which will result in increased student recruitment, retention, and overall success.