Science, Math, and Engineering Grad Students Engage in Teaching-as-Research
As part of the CIRTL Network activities at Vanderbilt, the CFT co-sponsors the Teaching-as-Research (TAR) Fellows program for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields at Vanderbilt. CIRTL defines TAR as follows:
“Teaching-as-Research involves the deliberate, systematic, and reflective use of research methods to develop and implement teaching practices that advance the learning experiences and outcomes of students and teachers.”
Each fall, a number of TAR Fellows are selected to conduct projects exploring aspects of undergraduate education in their disciplines. Each Fellow works with a faculty mentor, and each project typically focuses on an undergraduate course taught by that mentor.
Each January the TAR Fellows share their projects with the campus in a poster session hosted by CIRTL-at-Vanderbilt. Below are links to some of the posters from the 2009-10 cohort.
- Tara Davis & Anneliese Spaeth, Mathematics (Jo Ann Staples) – The Effect of Journal Writing Upon Mathematical Learning
- Ayla Pamukcu, Earth & Environmental Sciences (Guilherme Gualda) – The Influence of Student Diversity and the Effectiveness of Flowcharting on Student Success: A Case Study From an Upper Level Geology Course [VUnetID req.]
- Nicholas Roberts, Mechanical Engineering (Greg Walker) – Investigation of Computational and Visual Modules to Enhance Learning in Undergraduate Heat Transfer
- Brian Robertson, Biological Sciences (Steve Baskauf) – Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clickers in a Biology Lab
- Elizabeth Vargis, Biomedical Engineering (Anita Mahadevan-Jansen) – Implementing and Assessing a Challenge-Based Module for Spectroscopy in a Biomedial Optics Class
- Jonathan Wellons, Computer Science (Julie Johnston) – Novice Programmer Planning: A Grounded Theory Approach
Three of these students (Nicholas Roberts, Elizabeth Vargis, and Jonathan Wellons) have had presentations accepted at national conferences being held this summer.
See the CFT’s Teaching-as-Research Fellows page for information on 2008-09 projects, as well as more detailed program information. Look for the call for proposals for the 2010-2011 cohort soon!
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