Project Grant 2222208

This $300,000 National Science Foundation project grant, funded under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), will support research at the University of California, Santa Barbara to advance the cognitive science of active learning in STEM courses. Over a two-year period, the fellow will conduct three controlled experiments manipulating dosage schedules and order of active learning and lecture components. The research aims to pinpoint instructional features that maximize equity, self-efficacy, and student learning outcomes. Comparisons will examine potential disproportionate impacts on underrepresented student groups. Results could guide evidence-based transformations of college STEM courses to effectively integrate active learning. The professional development plan is tailored to deepen the fellow's research skills and prepare for a future career developing teaching guidelines based on evidence from applied studies. The award date is August 1, 2022 with a projected completion date of July 31, 2024.