Initiatives
Dr. Melanie Cooper
STEM Speaker, April 18, 2014: Evidence-Based Approaches to STEM Education
Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education, Michigan State University
Take-Home Lessons
• Buy-in from faculty is achieved best by discussing the content (science) first,
rather than the surface-level interventions in teaching.
• It is especially helpful to create an ARTICULATED curriculum, where specific blocks
of content are introduced and reinforced with intentionality even across departments
and programs. Course content should be willing to "do less" and keep backward design
foremost.
• Classroom delivery should focus on the WHY rather than the WHAT; it should develop
deep explanations and understanding of fewer topics than what is now traditional.