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CEER News and Events


This page lists news of STEM education events, awards, new programs ... of interest to the EGR community. 

If you have an news or event item you would like to have posted here, please contact us.


n Ecological Perspective on STEM Education Research: Challenges and Opportunities

posted Oct 16, 2014, 7:44 PM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Oct 16, 2014, 7:45 PM ]

                     William Sea - AACR Postdoctoral Research Associate Candidate

Center for Engineering Education Research Seminar.

An Ecological Perspective on STEM Education Research: Challenges and Opportunities .

When:Tuesday, October 21, 2014 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

Where:1420 Engineering Building.

Abstract:
Using several key concepts from ecology and conservation science, I draw on
my research and teaching experience to explore the challenges and
opportunities for teaching large introductory science courses and conducting
STEM education research.  Specifically, I give examples from my use of
active learning approaches including feedback through open-ended constructed
response questions and informal student-focused research.  I also discuss
key findings from recent literature and preliminary results from the
analysis of a large national survey of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics
university instructors.

Bio:
Dr. William Sea earned a PhD in Ecology in 2008 from Colorado State
University. His PhD research focused on modeling climate and fire effects on
tree-grass dynamics of savannas in southern Africa.  After his PhD, he
worked as a postdoctoral research associate at CSIRO in Canberra, Australia
investigating the use of remote sensing to study fire-savanna dynamics and
carbon balance in northern Australia and the ecohydrology of tropical
grasslands.  He subsequently worked as a research fellow and is currently an
adjunct fellow at the University of Canberra investigating restoration of
grasslands invaded by Chilean needle grass and the conservation of the
critically endangered golden sun moth.  He has a long interest in improving
STEM education at all levels.


The Value of Consistent and Objective Assessment in Teaching Efficacy for Large Classes

posted Oct 16, 2014, 7:31 PM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Oct 16, 2014, 7:35 PM ]

              Nirit Glazer - AACR Postdoctoral Research Associate Candidate 
        
Center for Engineering Education Research Seminar

The Value of Consistent and Objective Assessment in Teaching Efficacy for Large Classes 

When:Friday, October 24, 2014 - 11:00am to 12:00pm.
Where: 2555 D Engineering.

Abstract:
One of the main challenges in large courses is monitoring the individual
section activities, and tracking consistency across sections in both
instruction and grading. It is important that all students be graded on the
same basis regardless of the section to which they have been assigned. The
desire and call for consistency in teaching and grading across sections in a
multiple-section course is mandatory; but unfortunately it has received
little attention in the research literature. This talk focuses on the use of
assessment to enhance consistency, and its impact on teaching efficacy in
large post-secondary courses. The talk also focuses on the usefulness and
effectiveness of assessment in informing instructors about the learning
progress of their students, such as gaps in understanding, so that the
instructors will be able to use this information to help their students to
make a better connection between interrelated ideas.

Bio:
Nirit Glazer earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies from the University of
Michigan under the supervision of Professor Joseph Krajcik. Her research
interests are the enhancement of student learning and improvement of
teaching practice, particularly through assessment, learning analytics, and
visualization of data.  She earned her master degree from the Department of
Science Teaching at the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel)and bachelor
degree in Chemistry and a teaching certificate, both from the Technion -
Israel Institute of Technology (Israel).  Additionally, she is excited about
implementing technology to assist in feedback for both teachers and
students.





Conceptual Exercises in Online Physics and Astronomy Courses

posted Oct 16, 2014, 7:14 PM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Oct 16, 2014, 7:33 PM ]

                Matthew Steele - AACR Postdoctoral Research Associate Candidate

Center for Engineering Education Research Seminar

Conceptual Exercises in Online Physics and Astronomy Courses .

When:  Monday, October 20 , 2014 - 11:00am to 12:00pm.
Where1420 Engineering Building

Abstract:
Students' conceptual understanding in introductory physics and astronomy
courses often lags behind their computational problem solving ability.
Numerous research based solutions to this problem have been developed
ranging from pedagogies and frameworks to content specific curricula. It is
a struggle to adapt many of these approaches to online and blended classes
where students engage the course material and each other in a manner
dissimilar to how they would in the traditional classroom environment for
which the methods were originally developed. In this talk I examine the
challenges of the electronic course format for conceptual understanding in
physics and astronomy and how existing research based pedagogies maybe
adapted to meet them.

Bio:
Matthew Steele is a graduate of Michigan State University, earning his PhD
in Astrophysics and Astronomy. Dr Steele's science research is focused on
accreating black holes and the dense stellar environments in which they are
found. While completing a masters degree in Physics at Bowling Green State
University he served as a NSF GK-12 Fellow in a science education program
bringing Inquiry practices to public school classrooms. Most recently Dr
Steele taught at Northern Michigan University where he worked to extend
student centered pedagogies beyond the traditional classroom walls.

An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching MOOC – An Open, Online Course for Future (and Current) Faculty.

posted Oct 15, 2014, 6:48 AM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Oct 15, 2014, 6:48 AM ]

Launching October 6, 2014, “An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching,” is an open, online course designed to prepare STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) faculty to be more effective teachers.

 

This free online course will provide future (and current) STEM faculty with an introduction to evidence-based STEM teaching practices.  Participants will learn about effective teaching strategies and the research that supports them, and they will apply what they learn to the design of lessons and assignments they can use in future teaching opportunities. Those who complete the course will be more informed and confident teachers, equipped for greater success in the classroom.

 

The course is hosted by Coursera.  You may sign up at

https://www.coursera.org/course/stemteaching

 

Local Learning Communities

 

There will be a local Learning Community hosted at MSU for MSU participants to meet each other face-to-face and to discuss the course materials and assignments. 

 

All meetings will be from 5:00-6:30p.m.  Below are the room numbers...

10/14 Room 120 Linton Hall
10/21 2nd Floor Conference Room Chittenden Hall
11/4 2nd Floor Conference Hall Chittenden Hall
11/18 2nd Floor Conference Hall Chittenden Hall

 

Funding

 

“An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching” is funded by a WIDER grant from the National Science Foundation led by PI Rique Campa (Michigan State University).  Other PIs on the grant are Kitch Barnicle (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Derek Bruff (Vanderbilt University), Bennett Goldberg (Boston University), and Robert Mathieu (University of Wisconsin-Madison).

CEER is pleased to announce the Marrage of Michele and Tim

posted Jun 27, 2014, 7:17 AM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Aug 6, 2014, 9:51 AM ]


WensdayJun 25 CEER celebrate the Marriage of Michele Weston and Tim Allswede .
Michele is undergrad researcher in CEER. 
























Important Announcement -Monday May 19th

posted May 14, 2014, 8:17 AM by Kathy Dehshiri

Important Announcement

We are excited to announce that our first Brown Bag Webinar will be on the topic of Early Alert and Interventions to Improve Student Success and Retention, and will be facilitated by Dr. Edmund Tsang from Western Michigan University.

It will be held on Monday May 19th at 2:00pm EDT, 1:00pm CDT, 12:00pm MDT, 11:00am PDT.

Click here to register.

What is a Brown Bag Webinar? A brown bag webinar is an informal, engaging, and fun way to connect with your colleagues around a certain topic. Think of it as a group skype call with colleagues. Dr. Tsang will be sharing several ideas that developed at the STEP 2014 meeting, but in general the agenda is purposefully very open, with the goal of stimulating discussion and ideas/questions sharing from all the participants.  Do you have ideas, questions, or suggestions related to Early Alert and Intervention Programs?  Please join us and bring questions or ideas you would like to discuss and get feed-back on. To keep things more intimate, the meeting will be limited to 10 participants, first come first serve.

May 13, 2014
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MATLAB to C - Webinar from The MathWorks Thu May 22

posted May 8, 2014, 7:00 AM by Jon Sticklen   [ updated May 8, 2014, 7:00 AM ]

Converting MATLAB to C to produce efficient C code can be a game changer in terms of developing embedded code rapidly, and with a tool of choice for most engineering applications. The MathWorks offers a free webinar to help jump start the process of learning the work flow for converting MATLAB to C. For more details and to register for the webinar, click HERE

RESEARCH VIDEO WITH STUDIOCODE

posted May 5, 2014, 1:59 PM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated May 5, 2014, 2:05 PM ]

            




When:Thursday,  May 8, 2014 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm

Where:Room 252 Erickson Hall

StudioCode is the premiere Mac software package for the cataloging and
research coding of classroom video, open interviews, and even such diverse
fields as sports video.   This session will be an introduction to StudioCode
and its use for research video analysis in education and other disciplines.
It is open to all members of the university community who may be interested
in using modern video research tools in their work.   CREATE is sponsoring
this event as part of an effort to build and offer research capacity.  Mike
Anzalone from StudioCode will be leading the discussion.

In addition, Mike will be available to meet with individual researchers or
research groups in the late morning and afternoon outside of the session.
Please sign up at http://create4stem.msu.edu/doodle/studiocode for a slot if
you would like to meet with Mike to discuss your research needs.

STEP WEBINAR: Strategies for Promoting Faculty Engagement with Early STEM Students - May 6th

posted Apr 28, 2014, 10:49 AM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Apr 28, 2014, 11:52 AM ]





When
:Tusday ,May 6th, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm


 Presenters: Claudia E.Vergara ,Mark Urban-Lurain,Daina Briedis,and Jon Sticklen  
                                
                                      Michigan State University 




  • Abstract: Attrition of potentially qualified students from STEM programs has been identified as a nation-wide concern that will affect the future of our workforce. Faculty engagement with these students can make the difference between the students' remaining in STEM disciplines and students choosing different, seemingly “friendlier” career paths. The objective of the connector faculty (CF) program at Michigan State University is to build effective student-faculty connections through coordinated formal and informal interactions where students feel supported and welcomed in [engineering] and broadly STEM disciplines.

    The webinar will discuss the key factors and lessons learned during the implementation of the CF program, including the transition of the program towards a sustainable phase. Attendees will gain a unique perspective about strategies that can be applied and adapted in the context of their own institutions. Participants are encouraged to get the conversation started before the webinar by posting questions and ideas about ways to facilitate student and faculty engagement in these programs on the STEPCentral.netwebsite. (http://stepcentral.net/webinars/13)

    Contact Tania Siemens (tsiemens@uoregon.edu) with any questions.

    Thanks and see you there!

    CREATE Science Seminar Series: Danny Caballero and David Stroupe

    posted Apr 17, 2014, 8:44 AM by Kathy Dehshiri   [ updated Apr 17, 2014, 8:44 AM ]


    Engaging Students in Science Practice .

    This session, co-presented by Danny Caballero, from the College of Natural Sciences, and David Stroupe, from the College of Education represents best what this series is all about: Creating a collaborative community for teaching, learning, and research of STEM education K-16. 


    When:Thursday, April 17, 2014 - 1:00pm.

    Where252 Erickson Hall

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