MOOC-Supported Learning Communities for Future STEM Faculty: Multiple Paths to Advance Evidence-based Teaching Across the Nation

Project: Research project

Project Details

Description

MOOC-Supported Learning Communities for Future STEM Faculty: Multiple Paths to Advance Evidence-based Teaching Across the Nation NSF DGE 1347605 Northwestern University Statement of Work Lead Institution: Michigan State University; Lead PI: Henry (Rique) Campa, III Lead at Northwestern: B. B. Goldberg Start Date: 10/01/2016 End Date: 09/30/2018 Background: For the last decade, the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) has focused attention on the leverage point of preparing the future national STEM faculty to be excellent teachers and researchers. This project is being carried out by colleagues and member institutions of the CIRTL Network, now consisting of 42 institutions. The impact of the CIRTL Network is substantial; nonetheless there are more STEM future faculty who do not yet have access to significant professional development opportunities in teaching and learning, whether from CIRTL or from other programs. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are tools that have potential to impact a very large number of STEM future faculty. This project leverages the core ideas and products of CIRTL to develop MOOCs that can prepare relatively large numbers of future faculty able to implement and advance evidence-based, high-impact teaching practices. We also propose to deepen the learning of evidence-based teaching practices for a significant number of future faculty through two additional implementation modes that leverage our MOOCs to foster associated learning communities. The overarching goal of our project is to develop MOOCs and associated online learning modes that prepare large numbers of future STEM faculty to implement and advance evidence-based, high-impact teaching practices. To meet this goal we are leveraging the CIRTL core ideas and research findings to accomplish four process objectives, namely to: 1. Develop two MOOCs that prepare future STEM faculty to implement and advance evidence-based, high-impact teaching practices; 2. Develop and implement within the CIRTL Network three modes of implementation of these MOOCs: a) Open Individual Participation; b) MOOC-Centered Learning Communities (MCLCs); and c) Blended-Learning Courses; 3. Evaluate future faculty participation and their learning of evidence-based, high-impact teaching practices across the three implementation modes; 4. Offer the MOOCs to the nation on available platforms, and disseminate supporting materials for varied implementation modes throughout the CIRTL Network and the nation. Northwestern University will be responsible for the following activities: 1. Data collection, analysis and manuscript preparation. NU PI Goldberg, working with researchers at Northwestern University, will take the lead on collecting, collating, and analyzing the date from the Coursera and EdX platforms on the participation, learning activities, and learning outcomes of the two STEM Teaching MOOCs and the one mini-MOOC on Teaching as Research. Following data analysis and discussion with the MOOC team, Goldberg will take the lead on manuscript preparation for publication. 2. Supporting the redesign and re-implementation of the second MOOC, an advanced STEM teaching MOOC. Following the initial design and feedback from the community, we are in the process of redesigning the MOOC, and streamlining the activities, and providing a product more in line with the learning needs of the STEM PhD and postdocs seeking to become future faculty. Goldberg will assist PI Campa and co-PI Bruff, as well as others, in the process of redesign and implementat
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date10/1/169/30/18

Funding

  • Michigan State University (RC103138NW // DUE-1347605)
  • National Science Foundation (RC103138NW // DUE-1347605)

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