Project Grant 2400902

This National Science Foundation (NSF) grant award under the STEM Education (CFDA 47.076) program provides $261,523 to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to conduct a 5-year research project exploring student interactions and participation in small groups within belonging-oriented undergraduate mathematics classrooms. The project aims to advance foundational knowledge on the relationship between active learning approaches and equitable, inclusive learning environments, particularly for students from non-dominant identity groups. Through surveys, interviews, and classroom observations, the research will examine students' opportunities to learn, positional identities, and sense of belonging within small group activities in introductory mathematics courses at two contrasting institutions. The findings are expected to increase understanding of how classroom norms and instructional practices impact the learning experiences of underrepresented students in STEM fields.