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All University Conversation

All University Conversation. “MAKING GOOD WORK VISIBLE: The Nuts and Bolts of Project Kaleidoscope” October 2005. PKAL’S MISSION.

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All University Conversation

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  1. All University Conversation “MAKING GOOD WORK VISIBLE: The Nuts and Bolts of Project Kaleidoscope” October 2005

  2. PKAL’S MISSION • Prepare leaders to take responsibility, over the long-term, for building and sustaining a strong undergraduate STEM learning environment on their home campus, and for serving as advocates for such efforts within their disciplinary and professional communities, and in the public arena.

  3. PKAL’S VISION • A future in which individual colleges and universities see themselves as part of a larger community, one that is facing similar challenges and opportunities and is committed to ensuring that all American undergraduates have access to robust learning experiences in STEM fields. And, that this community takes it responsibilities as leader seriously, setting visions, explaining and communicating, taking risks, etc. in working to realize that vision.

  4. Umbrella Themes for the Leadership Initiatives • RESEARCH-RICH: That all students have access to a research-rich learning environment that socializes them into the community of science • INTERDISCIPLINARY: That the increasingly interdisciplinary manner in which science is practiced is reflected in the environment in which science is learned

  5. Umbrella Themes for the Leadership Initiatives • TECHNOLOGICALLY INTENSIVE: That emerging technologies are used most creatively and effectively in the service of learning • SCIENCE FOR ALL: that STEM learning is an integral part of the undergraduate experience for all students, preparing them for responsible citizenship in a world increasingly influenced by science and technology

  6. Time Line • July 2004: applied to join PKAL’S first Leadership Initiative, funded by National Science Foundation • September 2004: notified that application was successful

  7. Team Members • Beth Weatherby, English, Dean of Arts, Letters & Sciences • Betsy Desy, Biology, Chair of Science Dept. • Dan Kaiser, Mathematics and Computer Science, Coordinator of Liberal Arts Curriculum Transformation Taskforce • Steve Kramer, Philosophy, Director of Honors Program, Field Biologist • Emily Deaver, Environmental Science

  8. PKAL - Leadership Initiative Seminar “Leadership in building a technologically-intensive learning environment” Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY — October 2004

  9. Team Vision Statement • All students can and must become scientifically and numerically literate in order to be engaged and effective citizens.

  10. Themes • Stop talking about teaching and start talking about learning • Develop interdisciplinary, integrated and interactive learning environments

  11. Interactive Learning • Requires that students attend class • Fewer Lectures • More student participation • Faculty as coach • Students in teams • Many variations • Wide/deep adoption of technology

  12. RPI’s Story • Where Students Learn by Doing • Assessment Driven Transformation • Shift from lecture based learning to interactive learning • Seek to maximize student learning rather than to cover the material • Create a culture of experimentation and risk-taking • Focus on studio classrooms: combine labs, mini-lectures, team learning

  13. RPI’s Story • Where Students Learn by Doing • Technology rich learning environment: Laptops to PRD • Shift to 4x4 course model • Continuous assessment • Result: Improved learning experience for students and faculty • See www.ciue.rpi.edu

  14. PKAL - Leadership Initiative Seminar “Leadership in building a learning environment that ensures the success of all students” Atlanta, GA. — November 2004

  15. Outcomes • SMSU team developed vision, goals, and action plan for Science Department • Topic of discussion in Science Department meetings • Modified statements for inclusion in Biology Program 10-year Review, completed in 2005

  16. Outcomes • Developed compendium of Educational Resources • MERLOT • Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching • http://www.merlot.org • SENCER • Science Education for New Civic Engagements • http://www.sencer.net

  17. Merlot • Free, web-based resource designed to help you find online teaching and learning materials quickly and easily including teaching tools and support resources that help enhance classroom instruction

  18. Merlot • Organized into the following topic areas: • Arts • Business • Education • Humanities • Mathematics • Science and Technology • Social Science

  19. SENCER • SENCER engages student interest in the sciences and mathematics by supporting the development of undergraduate courses and academic programs that teach “to” basic science and mathematics “through” complex, capacious, and unsolved public issues.

  20. SENCER • SENCER courses and academic programs aim to strengthen the learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. These courses and programs employ rigorous interdisciplinary approaches to teaching basic science and strengthening students’ capacities to become engaged citizens.

  21. SENCER • Course Models • Forensic Investigation: Seeking Justice Through Science • The Mathematics of Communication: Keeping Secrets • Nutrition and Wellness and the Iowa Environment • Chemistry and the Environment • Geology and Development of Modern Africa • Science, Society, and Global Catastrophes • Global Warming http://www.sencer.net/pdfs/models_print_web_2004/global_warming_model.pdf

  22. SENCER • Summer Institutes • The Summer Institutes are annual, invitational, intensive, residential, team-based learning opportunities for faculty, academic leaders and students. The Institutes represent the cornerstones of SENCER’s faculty development and academic reform program. The Institutes feature a rich mix of plenaries, workshops, and concurrent sessions that focus not only on what students should learn, but how that learning might best be accomplished. • Tuition, housing, and partial board are covered by SENCER funds. SENCER also provides a modest grant to participating Institutions to help defray costs of travel and to support program implementation.

  23. PKAL - Leadership Initiative Seminar “Leadership in building an interdisciplinary STEM learning environment” U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY. — March 2005

  24. Why hold a meeting at West Point? • USMA Mathematics Dept has made major curricular changes: • only 4 core courses • focus on developing a thought process • connections to other disciplines & departments

  25. Summary of the West Point Meeting • THE WORLD IS CHANGING!! • multidisciplinary and complex • global in scope • teaming and personal interaction skills are critical

  26. Summary of the West Point Meeting • TEACHING IS CHANGING!! • No longer a means to convey information • Teaching is an enabling mechanism

  27. Our Vision After this Meeting • PKAL Team Focus • To provide leadership and planning for the development of a signature program in Environmental Science

  28. Our Vision After this Meeting • Proposed Idea • The Institute for Sustainability

  29. PKAL - Leadership Initiative Seminar “Leadership in Building Research-rich Learning Environments” Hope College, Holland, MI — April 2005

  30. Outcomes • A realization that “Research Rich” is a fundamental aspect of Liberal Education • Refined goals and action plan for the PKAL team • Awareness of contacts for grant opportunities

  31. What is the value of a research-rich learning environment to the college? • Enables effective achievement the college’s mission • Creates opportunities for interdisciplinary efforts, both within the sciences and with non-science programs • Spreads across all disciplines • Enriches and strengthens the entire learning environment - James Beolkins, Provost, Hope College

  32. What is the value of a research-rich learning environment to the college? • Supports the recruitment and retention of the best teacher-scholars • Supports the recruitment and retention of the best students • Promotes strong mentoring relationships that last a long time • Provides continuous opportunities for faculty development - James Beolkins, Provost, Hope College

  33. Refined Goals • SMSU Vision “SMSU will be an institution of FIRST choice in the region.” • Goals • As an institution, embrace the value of student research/scholarly work as an essential component of liberal education. • Have administration demonstrate commitment to research rich interdisciplinary science.

  34. Potential Sources of Funding • Research Corporation • Jim Gentile, President -- Former Dean at Hope College • NFS • Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) • Cross-disciplinary Research at Undergraduate Institutions(C-RUI) • Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)

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