Collaborative research: elevating the calculus standard of care through an innovative collaborative testbed

California State University San Marcos Corporation received a $173,098 Project Grant award effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, from the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076). This collaborative research project, titled "Elevating the Calculus Standard of Care Through an Innovative Collaborative Testbed," delivers evidence-based instructional improvements to introductory calculus courses across multiple higher education institutions. The primary service involves adapting and implementing the Modeling Practices in Calculus (MPC) approach—an instructional methodology that emphasizes cooperative learning, small-group discussion, mathematical reasoning, and communication skills development—at partner institutions including Florida International University, Clark College, and the University of Virginia, with expansion to three additional partner sites in the project's second phase.

The project generates three streams of research-focused deliverables addressing faculty development, student learning outcomes, and program propagation. Specifically, the initiative investigates how faculty develop instructional expertise in MPC pedagogy, how students develop cognitive and affective skills through adapted MPC designs, and how Phase 1 partner institutions prepare for sustainability and dissemination of the approach. By targeting calculus as a critical STEM gateway course that frequently constrains degree completion, this project provides participating institutions with professional development resources, curriculum materials, and evidence-based practices designed to increase student success and broaden participation in STEM degree programs.

Abstract

This level 3 iuse project, a collaborative effort between florida international university (FIU), california state university SAN marcos (csusm), clark college (CC), and the university of virginia (UVA), aims to improve teaching and learning in introductory calculus courses. Specifically, the project adapts and implements the modeling practices in calculus (MPC) approach, which has been shown to significantly improve learning and success for a broad collection of calculus i students at FIU. At the core of MPC is the opportunity for students to work cooperatively and discuss key mathematical ideas in a face-to-face, small group setting. The curriculum engages students in the practices of mathematicians, supports students argumentation, and builds important mathematical reasoning and communication skills. This project implements MPC at multiple sites across two overlapping phases, first facilitating adoption and implementation at csusm, CC, and UVA, and then identifying three additional partner sites that will join the project in its second year. Calculus remains a key course for many stem degree programs and can represent a bottleneck for many students. This project uses evidence-based teaching and engagement practices to provide an enriching, collaborative learning environment that has potential to improve student learning and outcomes, thereby increasing the number of students successfully completing stem degrees in multiple areas of national importance. Project research focuses on three research questions: 1) faculty focus: how do faculty develop their MPC instructional expertise and what professional development elements are necessary for future propagation efforts? 2) student focus: how do students develop cognitive and affective skills arising from the adapted MPC instructional designs? 3) propagation focus: how are phase 1 partners prepared for establishing a national calculus propagation network? How are new sites successfully recruited and onboarded into project? Data sources include interviews, surveys, weekly faculty reflections, and shared exam questions across project and non-project courses. Project evaluation, carried out by an experienced evaluator and supported by an expert advisory board, will assess project implementation, project and site operations, and overall progress towards goals. Outcomes and findings will be disseminated broadly to encourage further adoption of the MPC approach across institutional contexts. The NSF iuse: EDU program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of stem education for all students. Through the engaged student learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.