Keeping Your Students Engaged: Active Learning in STEM Classrooms

Keeping Your Students Engaged: Active Learning in STEM Classrooms

Workshop Description:

Learning in STEM happens across many settings, from the lecture hall to lab and discussion sections. No matter the teaching context, active learning is a great way to liven up your classroom and engage students with complicated STEM concepts. In this workshop, participants will explore active learning, including the evidence of its efficacy and techniques to implement active learning for all class sizes. At the end of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to develop an active learning focused activity for a topic in their individual discipline.

Workshop Facilitators:

Rohit Ramanathan is a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where he studies the kinetics of oxide growth, composition, and morphology evolution on alloy surfaces. He has previously led workshops for new engineering TAs aimed at providing tips and advice for fulfilling the often broad responsibilities associated with that position, and has 6 years experience as a tutor, TA, and facilitator for various STEM courses. In his free time he enjoys cooking, watching baseball and hockey, and rock climbing.

Shaunna McLeod is a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry where her research focuses on improving the sensitivity of MRI contrast agents for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. At Northwestern, she has been a TA for general chemistry and advanced laboratory courses in addition to completing the Searle Teaching Certificate Program in 2018. Her teaching interests center on active learning strategies and laboratory instruction as a means to promote the relevance of chemistry and retention of students in STEM.