This project assesses the state of instructional practices in courses offered in the biology, chemistry, and physics & astronomy departments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Building on these data, the project will provide a professional development program on evidence-based instructional practices targeting faculty in these departments. Additionally, the project seeks to enhance and broaden of the use of peer instruction and just-in-time teaching in the biology, chemistry, and physics & astronomy courses, and establish the effectiveness of the professional development program through an assessment of the use of these practices by the participants and impact on students.
This project seeks to implement a professional development program on evidence-based instructional practices for chemistry, biology, and physics & astronomy faculty at UNL, as well as train current and future faculty in the implementation of such a program. One of the outcomes of the professional development program will be the widening of the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses at the institution, which will enhance students' learning environments. This project has the realistic potential of increasing the retention of all students in these STEM courses, and subsequently in STEM majors.
