Promoting STEM Student Success through Engagement: A Collaborative Approach Tim Champion Britt Kern Dawn McNair Thanh-Thuy Nguyen June 27, 2014

The Cycle of ofLearning Office Hour Rhetoric Test Classroom

Did not retain knowledge Unable to demonstrate competence “When will I ever use this?”

The Net Generation Also known as Millennials Born between Never known life without the internet.

FACTS-- Driven to Succeed Driven by Compassion Driven by Hope

In the Classroom— Need for interaction should be capitalized. Encourage interaction both within and outside the classroom. Desire to learn about subjects through exploration. Lessons last longer in our minds if we understand the relevant steps to get there.

In the Classroom— Relevancy of the degree. Applying lessons learned to real-life problems, institutions, or organizations in the community. Every part of their life is presented in a multimedia format. Instruction in how to do research.

Let’s Take a Closer Look Dan’s Dilemma Part One

Our Response-- In 2012, JCSU implemented Increasing Excellence in Science and Mathematics The IESM is designed around the following four goals: --To develop the faculty’s ability to give students experience with problem-based learning. --Increase the effectiveness of math academic support services. --To increase student enrollment and success in the Biology, Math, and Chemistry majors --To increase student academic success and persistence in the Biology, Math, and Chemistry gateway courses. Major Components

Why Engagement?

Limited studies on student engagement in Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics One of the more popular studies found that collaborative learning was shown to make a significant impact on achievement, persistence and attitude in undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology courses. (Springer, Stanne, and Donovan ) R E S E A R C H R E S E A R C H

Let’s Take a Closer Look Dan’s Dilemma Part Two

NSSE Results 2013 Student Engagement has a “compen- satory effect”on grades and students’ likelihood of returning for a second year of college. Higher levels of reflective and integrative learning were associated with students feeling challenged to do their best academic work in the classroom.

George Kuh, Founder of NSSE says-- “When institutions use effective educational practices, they provide a small boost to students who are lower achieving when they start college.” “The more engaged they become, the better their grades are, and they start catching up to students who started college with a higher level of achievement.”

Let’s Take a Closer Look Dan’s Dilemma Part Three

“…as teachers we cannot transfer our knowledge into our students’ minds. Instead students must do the work of learning by actively making connections and organizing learning into meaningful concepts.” (Barkley, Cross, and Major, pg. 11)

Increasing Excellence In 2012, the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics implemented a new problem-based approach to teaching in targeted courses. Initiative included leveraging existing student support initiatives to create a comprehensive approach to STEM education.

Teacher Advisor for the Department Provides advising for sanction students Has two-course release Maintains early alert system for department In-Class Interventions Hypothesis driven or problem based approach Students participate in building relevant steps Increase in collaborative activities More on Increasing Excellence

Problem Based Learning Model that began in medical schools. Students see relevant steps to get to solution. Students decide what they know and what they need to know. Improves content literacy skills. Understand the Problem, Explore the Curriculum, and Resolve the problem.

How Tall is Biddle Hall?

Take out your cell phone:)

ABBEY GRANGE CASE STUDY Problem Based Learning Activity where students had to use critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative learning to solve the commission of a crime.

Teacher Advisor for the Department Provides advising for sanction students Has two-course release Maintains early alert system for department In-Class Interventions Hypothesis driven or problem based approach Students participate in building relevant steps Increase in collaborative activities Instrumentation Calculator Based Laboratory Scientific Instruments for Labs More on Increasing Excellence Math Resource Center Targeted Utilization Plan Problem based repository Staff trained in Supplemental Instruction

Mathematics Center Utilization

Teacher Advisor for the Department Provides advising for sanction students Has two-course release Maintains early alert system for department In-Class Interventions Hypothesis driven or problem based approach Students participate in building relevant steps Increase in collaborative activities Instrumentation Calculator Based Laboratory Scientific Instruments for Labs More on Increasing Excellence Math Resource Center Targeted Utilization Plan Problem based repository Staff trained in Supplemental Instruction

Mathematics Center Satisfaction Survey

Results thus Far Did enrollment in the Natural Science and Mathematics degrees increase?

Biology Enrollment

Chemistry Enrollment

Mathematics Enrollment

Results Did persistence and graduation rates increase in the Department?

Retention for STEM Students

Biology Degree

Chemistry Degree

Mathematics Degree

Results  Did the D/F drop rate decrease in gateway courses?

Biology Success Rate

Chemistry Success Rate

Mathematics Success Rate

Challenges with Mathematics Service Courses In 2012, most sections were taught by adjuncts. Creating Buy-In among Senior Faculty.

PBL versus Control % of students with “C” or higher WritingCritical Thinking Quantitative Reasoning PBL78%83%86% Non-PBL39.5%54%68%

“Changing the filter to a pipeline”

Questions?

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