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Promoting Inclusivity through the Use of Concept-Based Instruction, Learning Assistants, and Adaptive Learning Modules

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Conference

2024 ASEE PSW Conference

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

Publication Date

April 18, 2024

Start Date

April 18, 2024

End Date

April 20, 2024

DOI

10.18260/1-2--46056

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46056

Paper Authors

biography

Brian P. Self California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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Brian Self obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech, and his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Utah. He worked in the Air Force Research Laboratories before teaching at the U.S. Air Force Academy for seven years

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Stamatis Vokos

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Dominic J Dal Bello Allan Hancock College Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-8002-3226

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Dom Dal Bello is Professor of Engineering at Allan Hancock College (AHC), a California community college between UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At AHC, he is Department Chair of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty Advisor of MESA (the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement Program), and Principal/Co-Principal Investigator of several National Science Foundation projects (S-STEM, LSAMP, IUSE). In ASEE, he is chair of the Two-Year College Division, and Vice-Chair/Community Colleges of the Pacific Southwest Section. He received the Outstanding Teaching Award for the ASEE/PSW Section in 2022.

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Abstract

WORKSHOP Students often struggle with issues of belonging in introductory STEM classes. Content can be challenging, and some complain of the “chilly climate” in many of these courses. A team from CSU XXX and XXX Community College collaborated on a grant funded by the California Learning Lab (titled Mechanics of Inclusion and Inclusivity in Mechanics) to develop materials and practices to try to help promote both learning as well as increased belonging and identity in introductory mechanics classes. In this workshop we will share some of our work, and assist participants in developing their own learning materials to help promote an inclusive classroom environment.

Learning Outcomes Participants will be able to: 1) Explain the benefits of concept-based, active instructional techniques 2) Create draft concept questions, ranking tasks, and/or inquiry-based learning activities for use in their courses 3) Compare and contrast the Learning Assistant Model to other forms of peer instruction (e.g., embedded tutors or TAs) 4) Develop strategies to establish a Learning Assistant model at their own institution 5) Discuss other methods for establishing a welcoming, inclusive classroom environment

Our work focuses on mechanics courses – physics, statics, and dynamics - but the workshop should benefit anyone who teaches STEM courses. Activities will stress workshop participation – undergraduate students will serve as Learning Assistants as the workshop leaders “teach” mechanics concepts. Participants will get the chance to experience things from the student perspective, and then use this to develop some of their own learning materials. We will discuss some of our work on belonging, and allow participants to be participants in an intervention. The minimum length needed would be 90 minutes, although 2 hour with time for a break would be optimal.

Self, B. P., & Vokos, S., & Dal Bello, D. J. (2024, April), Promoting Inclusivity through the Use of Concept-Based Instruction, Learning Assistants, and Adaptive Learning Modules Paper presented at 2024 ASEE PSW Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. 10.18260/1-2--46056

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