Free Online Course on Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching

The Boston University is inviting you to join “An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching” free online course. The aim of the course is helped you that how to implement evidence-based teaching strategies in your university classroom as well as effective methods for assessing teaching and learning.

The course draws on the expertise of experienced STEM faculty, educational researchers, and staff from university teaching centers, many of them affiliated with the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL).The course will start on January 30, 2017.

Course At A Glance

  1. Length: 8 weeks
  2. Effort: 4-5 hours per week
  3. Subject: Education & Teacher Training
  4. Institution: Boston University (BUx)
  5. Languages: English
  6. Price: Free
  7. Certificate Available: No
  8. Session: The course will start on January 30, 2017

Providers Details

  • About University

As one of the world’s leading research universities, Boston University is currently engaged in more than 340 separate research, service, and educational programs and projects. Today, BU is the fourth-largest private university in the country and a member of the American Association of Universities, a nonprofit association of 62 of North America’s leading research-intensive institutions.

  • Aim of University

The vision or aim of the Boston University encourage students to be active and responsible citizens in neighboring communities. Broaden the scope of the educational experience through service and reflection, and serve Greater Boston in a meaningful and mutually beneficial way.

Requirements

There is no Eligibility or prerequisites for the course.

About This Course

This course is designed to provide future STEM faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with an introduction to effective teaching strategies and the research that supports them. The language of the course is English.

STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy. This innovation and science literacy depends on a solid knowledge base in the STEM areas. It is clear that most jobs of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science.

How to Join This Course

You should register yourself through the given link to join this free on-line course: https://courses.edx.org/register

Course Format

  •  Week 1 – Principles of Learning, Part 1
    They start by exploring a few key learning principles that apply in all teaching contexts such as student’s prior knowledge, mental models and knowledge organization. They will consider the research supporting these principles and examples of how STEM faculty put them into practice.
  • Week 2 – Principles of Learning, Part 2
    This week they continue their exploration of learning principles that apply in all teaching contexts. These include effective ways of providing feedback to students and student motivations for learning. They will consider the research supporting these principles and examples of how STEM faculty put them into practice.
  • Week 3 – Learning Objectives
    Designing an effective learning experience for students means beginning with the end in mind. In this week, they will identify ways to craft meaningful learning objectives for one’s students and discuss strategies for incorporating those objectives in your instruction.
  • Week 4 – Assessment of Learning
    Once they have outlined and implemented their learning objectives they must consider the most effective way of assessing those learning objectives. This week they will discuss strategies for designing assessments that will align with your learning goals as well as how student mindset can influence their performance on these assessments.
  • Week 5 – Active Learning
    The module begins with a description of the benefits of active learning and how it fits into the overall learning cycle. Then, the module outlines two key features of active learning, teamwork and critical thinking, by showcasing several manifestations of active learning.
  • Week 6 – Inclusive Teaching
    This week they will discuss the importance of inclusive teaching and many of the issues instructors can face when teaching classes composed of students of varying ethnicities and genders. They provide you with examples of teaching practices and language that can isolate certain student populations along with strategies to avoid these practices.
  • Week 7 – Lesson Planning
    This week you will create an annotated lesson plan for a class you might teach in the future incorporating many of the principles covered in this course.
  • Week 8 – Conclusion
    During the final week of the course, you’ll provide feedback to your peers on their draft lesson plans and, in turn, receive feedback on your lesson plan.

Why Take This Course

Advantage: You will learn principles that apply in all teaching contexts. These include effective ways of providing feedback to students and student motivations for learning. This course helped you how to implement evidence-based teaching strategies in your university classroom.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this eight-week course what you learn is given below

  • Key learning principles such as the role of mental models in learning and the importance of practice and feedback
  • Fundamental elements of course design, including the development of learning objectives and assessments of learning aligned with those objectives
  • Teaching strategies for fostering active learning and inclusive classroom environments

Instructors

  • Derek Bruff: Derek Bruff is director of the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching and a senior lecturer in the Vanderbilt Department of Mathematics.
  • Trina McMahon: She is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
  • Bennett Goldberg: He is the Director of the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, Assistant Provost for Learning and Teaching, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University, as of August 1, 2016.
  • Henry (Rique) Campa III: He is an Associate Dean in the Graduate School and a Professor of Wildlife Ecology in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University (MSU).

Suggested Reading

Basic knowledge in teaching

You Might Also Be Interested In

You can also join “Leading Ambitious Teaching and Learning” free online course.

Conclusion

After completing the course you will create an annotated lesson plan for a class you might teach in the future incorporating many of the principles covered in this course. You will gain Teaching strategies for fostering active learning and inclusive classroom environments.

Detailed Information

For more information about the course, you can check the given link:

https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-evidence-based-bux-cirtl-1x-0#!

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