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The Gateway Science Workshop (GSW)

The Gateway Science Workshop (GSW). Sustainability and Implementation of a Peer-Led Undergraduate Program Cindy Pederson Northwestern University Searle Center for Teaching Excellence May 18, 2006. Enriching the Academic Success of College Science Students, 2006 Conference. Overview.

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The Gateway Science Workshop (GSW)

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  1. The Gateway Science Workshop (GSW) Sustainability and Implementation of a Peer-Led Undergraduate Program Cindy Pederson Northwestern University Searle Center for Teaching Excellence May 18, 2006 Enriching the Academic Success of College Science Students, 2006 Conference

  2. Overview • Background • Structure • History • Students • Facilitators • Faculty • University administration

  3. Background The Problem The small number of high-achieving undergraduates from underrepresented groups who successfully persist in math and science-based courses of study. (National Task Force on Minority High Achievement, 1999, Hanson, 1996)

  4. Background GSW Goals • Improve performance & retention of under-represented groups in STEM disciplines • Increase overall number of majors in STEM disciplines • Increase number of majors in under-represented groups in STEM disciplines • Increase number of under-represented students pursuing careers in STEM disciplines

  5. Background Program Foundations - Emerging Scholars Program (Treisman) - Stereotype Threat (Steele and Aronson)

  6. Background Theoretical Basis • Small groups • Non-remedial • Conceptually focused

  7. Background Program Overview Searle Center for Teaching Excellence 5 Researchers 2 Program coordinators 2 Program assistants Biology Chemistry Engineering Mathematics Physics 11 Classes 4–23 Workshops/Class 125 Facilitators (16 Senior Facilitators) 1274 Students Applied 705 Students Enrolled * Numbers based on fall 2005 data

  8. Background GSW History

  9. Background GSW Structure • Workshop • Problems • Conceptual • Challenging

  10. Background Key Aspects • Voluntary • 0-credit notation • Facilitators • Senior facilitators • Weekly meetings • Workshops • Sunday-Thursday • 11:00 am -7:00 pm • Meet 9 times a quarter

  11. Creating a Valued Framework

  12. Students Creating a Valued Framework

  13. Students GSW Students

  14. Students Student Requirements • Emotional • Peer to lead workshop • Learning from other students • GSW community • Advanced worksheets • Academic • Relevance • Ability of problems to identify misconceptions QUALITY !!

  15. Quality • Facilitators • Worksheets • Program community

  16. Student Ratings of the Program Winter 2003

  17. Facilitators Creating a Valued Framework

  18. Facilitators GSW Facilitators

  19. Facilitators Reward • 2002-2003: Pilot project • Certificate and Pay • 2003-2004: One credit course • Certificate and option of pay or academic credit • 2004-present: One credit course • Certificate and academic credit

  20. Facilitators SESP 291: Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring

  21. Facilitators Facilitator Gains Streitweiser, Micari, Paper presented at the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education annual conference, October 9, 2003

  22. Facilitators Facilitator Comments • Cognitive: Learning by explaining “Even though I learned a lot [when I took the course], having to do it again, and seeing it from a different point of view, and having to actually prepare for it so you can explain it to the students, it makes you learn it that much better.” • Professional: Preparation for placement exams “I just took the MCAT, so definitely having had to explain it to my students, I know the subject pretty well. And, when it was on the MCAT, I was like, ‘Oh, well, I know this, so that was kind of nice.’” • Interpersonal: Insight into the art and practice of teaching “I think [facilitating requires] more than I expected. I’ve noticed you can get by without doing a whole lot of preparation, but when you really put in the effort, it makes a huge difference in your workshop.” Streitweiser, Micari, Paper presented at the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education annual conference, October 9, 2003

  23. Students Student Ratings of Facilitators by Discipline(Spring 2003 )

  24. Faculty Creating a Valued Framework

  25. Faculty GSW Faculty

  26. Faculty Faculty Involvement Traditional Faculty Commitments Committee meetings/ service Research Publishing Teaching Advising Securing grants/ funding Expectations of GSW Faculty One feedback interview w/ the Searle Center; attending appreciation dinners Writing workshop problems Meeting weekly with the facilitators B. Strietweiser, M. Micari Support from the Core:Faculty Commitment to a STEM Learning Intervention, POD, 2005

  27. Faculty Faculty Requirements • Administrative support • Evidence of positive outcomes • A personal, intellectual commitment to the ideals behind the program/initiative • An opportunity to share in the interpretation of the data and decisions made about the future of the initiative B. Strietweiser, M. Micari Support from the Core:Faculty Commitment to a STEM Learning Intervention, POD, 2005

  28. Faculty Faculty Suggestions for Program Improvement • Provide better training for facilitators • Link conceptual study with problem solving study • A core group of successful problems • Provide tracking data on students after they leave the program • Recognize the faculty’s participation more and inform the deans and department heads about it • Expand the program to second and third year students B. Strietweiser, M. Micari Support from the Core:Faculty Commitment to a STEM Learning Intervention, POD, 2005

  29. Faculty Faculty Support • Administrative support • Worksheets • Students • Weekly meetings • Problem Bank • Appreciation

  30. Administration Creating a Valued Framework

  31. Administration Program Coordination University Administration Faculty Program Coordinator • Worksheets • and evaluations • Weekly meetings • Recruitment • Registration • Workshop locations • Support Facilitators Students GSW Team • Recruitment • Training • Advertisement • Registration • Dissemination • Evaluation • Research

  32. Administration Program Sustainability • Biology department • 1997-1999 • Andrew W. Mellon grant • 2001-2003 • 2004-2006 • Step 1 NSF grant: • Extended Science Workshop Program • 2005-

  33. Administration Budgeting • To pay or not to pay? • Program administration • As you grow: • Instructional materials • Senior facilitators? • Food

  34. Administration Program Growth • Start slow • Must have: • Faculty support • Administrative support • Evaluation plan • Financial/institutional reward

  35. Administration How Big is too Big? • Relevant classes • Class size and participation • Facilitators • Cost • Administrative help • Faculty

  36. Administration Challenges • Faculty involvement - training facilitators - general investment in the program • Problem construction • Data collection for the evaluation

  37. Acknowledgements • GSW PI: Gregory Light • GSW Research Team • Denise Drane • Marina Micari • Pilar Pazos • Bernhard Streitwieser • GSW administration • Christina Bobek • Sarah Smith • Su Swarat • Cory Waxman

  38. Thank you!!

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