Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics
Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics Scott Freeman, Sarah L. Eddy, Miles McDonough, Michelle K. Smith, Nnadozie Okoroafor, Hannah Jordt, and Mary Pat Wenderoth ...

Implicit social cognition: from measures to mechanisms
Describes current trends in attending to, and measuring, implicit processes such as social perception, judgement and action.

Accelerating change: The power of faculty change agents to promote diversity and inclusive teaching practices
R. Heather Macdonald, College of William and Mary; Rachel Beane, Bowdoin College; Eric Baer, Highline College; Pamela Eddy, College of William and Mary; Norlene Emerson, University of Wisconsin-Richland; Jan Hodder; University of Oregon; Ellen Iverson, Carleton College; John McDaris, Carleton College; Kristin O'Connell, Carleton College; Carol Ormand, Carleton College
This article about preparing faculty to act as change agents to support diversity and inclusion is applicable to both two-year colleges and a larger audience.

Active learning narrows achievement gaps for underrepresented students in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math
Elli J. Theobald; Mariah J. Hill; Elisa Tran; Sweta Agrawal; E. Nicole Arroyo; Shawn Behling; Nyasha Chambwe; Dianne Laboy Cintrón; Jacob D. Cooper; Gideon Dunster; Jared A. Grummer; Kelly Hennessey; Jennifer Hsiao; Nicole Iranon; Leonard Jones II; Hannah Jordt; Marlowe Keller; Melissa E. Lacey; Caitlin E. Littlefield; Alexander Lowe; Shannon Newman; Vera Okolo; Savannah Olroyd; Brandon R. Peecook; Sarah B. Pickett; David L. Slager; Itzue W. Caviedes-Solis; Kathryn E. Stanchak; Vasudha Sundaravardan; Camila Valdebenito; Claire R. Williams; Kaitlin Zinsli; and Scott Freeman
This study is a comprehensive meta-analysis of research on the influence of active and traditional learning approaches on STEM course outcomes (exam scores and course failure rates) for underrepresented students. Time-intensive active learning experiences contributed to reduced achievement gaps in exam scores and pass rates. Researchers concluded that deliberate active-learning course designs and inclusive teaching contribute to increasing equity in STEM. Although this study does not discuss cost-benefits, it affirms the value of investing in pedagogical enhancements to increase student retention and success. In this case, the benefits are continuous tuition revenue through student retention and the moral imperative of reducing equity gaps.

Improving the Academic Climate of an R1 STEM Department: Quantified Positive Shifts in Perception
This study confirms the positive outcomes of having a practical, sustainable, and data-driven framework for affecting change within a graduate community.

Work organization and ergonomics
Work organization and ergonomics Carayon & Smith. Paper from field of systems engineering and ergonomics that describes theory of Work Systems and applied methods for understanding socio-technical aspects of ...

Navigating the problem space of academic work
Navigating the problem space of academic work Hora. Study of how faculty plan their courses in real world setting, using the idea of a 'problem space' to examine how faculty construct mental ...

A student-staff partnership approach to course enhancement: Principles for enabling dialogue through repurposing subject-specific materials and metaphors
Lucy Chilvers, Centre for Learning and Teaching, and the School of Art, University of Brighton; Alice FoxCentre for Learning and Teaching, and the School of Art, University of Brighton; Sarah Bennett, Centre for Learning and Teaching, and the School of Art, University of Brighton;
Although describing a museum-based art class, the central principles and many of the strategies used can be adapted to STEM diciplines. The staff (authors' term) designed their museum-based class to create opportunities for dialogue with students, hear their voices, and use the information gleaned from to enhance learning and evaluate the class and pedagogical decisions. The qualitative analysis of student and staff experiences shows not only responsiveness by both groups, but increased engagement and sense of belonging by students from historically marginalized groups. The article includes quotes from staff about the challenges of this strategy (such as needing to remain 'unplanned') and practical constraints such as funding shortfalls. They end with 5 principles for module design including 'creative evaluation' (their term for this): 1. embedding regular opportunities for formative reflection and evaluation; 2. evaluative activities allow students to reflect on their learning and on the course; 3. staff are listening responsively and adapting to students' feedback where needed; 4. time is allocated for collaborative activities to build trust and support reflections; 5. activities and assessments are relevant to the discipline.

Framing and Efficacy of University-Required Diversity Courses in the Research Literature
Christine Zabala Eisshofer, University of Oklahoma
This literature review examines the research in the last 30 years in relation to university-required diversity courses, as well as highlights areas that have been understudied. Utilizing the social justice rationale for diversity, this review analyzes 25 quantitative and qualitative research articles that address university-required diversity courses. This literature review unpacks the mixed results from quantitative studies as well as analyzes the case studies presented in qualitative research. The relevance to this collection is the authors point that outcomes-based analysis (grades, survey responses) are insufficient, but that to truely understand student experiences in the classroom, we must examine student work undertaken during the class.

Educators' experiences with student voice: how teachers understand, solicit, and use student voice in their classrooms.
Jerusha O. Conner, Villanova University
Jerusha O. Conner, Villanova University This research paper explores how teachers understand, solicit, and use student input in their classrooms. The author defines 'student voice' as 'strategy that engageds youth in sharing their views on their experiences as students...' but discuss variety of definitions being used, and whether or not 'student voice' necessarily implies student engagement in decision making or even is restricted to opinions concerning school.