By Karen Villarreal

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded UTRGV $619,660 for collaborative research on inclusive instructional strategies designed to increase student success in undergraduate STEM programs.

The project – “Collaborative Research - Building Educational Theory Through Enacting Reforms - BETTER in STEM” – focuses on creating and implementing an instructional framework for inclusive, student-centered STEM teaching and learning.

Dr. Saraswathy Nair, chair of the UTRGV Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, is principal investigator on the “Collaborative Research - Building Educational Theory through Enacting Reforms - BETTER in STEM” project, which focuses on creating and implementing an instructional framework for inclusive, student-centered STEM teaching and learning. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

Dr. Saraswathy Nair, chair of the UTRGV Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, is principal investigator on the project; Dr. Timothy Huber, director of the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, is co-PI. 

Nair said the study has the potential to have a significant impact on STEM departments at two- and four-year institutions across the country by creating a framework for equity-conscious STEM education.

“The project’s proposed instructional strategies have been tested and proven to improve learning in STEM courses, particularly for first-generation college students or students from traditionally underrepresented groups,” Nair said. “If successful, the framework can be implemented across institutions nationally.”

UTRGV is one of three institutions receiving a total of $3 million from the NSF to fund student-focused strategies. Grants to carry out similar studies also went to Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College, both in Bellingham, Washington. By having more than one university replicate the study, researchers can compare their data and reach conclusions that can apply to a general population.

THE UTRGV WAY

Nair said UTRGV is participating in the study because UTRGV STEM faculty have a long history of implementing research-based instructional strategies that promote student engagement, participation and success.

“This is primarily in the form of flipped classroom, active learning and experiential learning activities,” she said. “Faculty at UTRGV and legacy institutions have attended workshops and trainings offered by the university for a decade or more.”

Dr. Alyssa G. Cavazos, associate professor of Writing and Language Studies, serves as the equity and inclusivity advisor for the grant. As director of the UTRGV Center for Teaching Excellence, Cavazos often is the facilitator on faculty training workshops that help train faculty for this sort of teaching approach.

 “We encourage and support faculty members’ use of inclusive, equity-conscious instructional strategies in their courses,” Cavazos said. “We’re proud that our faculty are participating in this study about high-quality teaching practices.”