IU Joins STEM Education Project

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Faculty at Indiana University’s Bloomington campus will be taking part in a five-year study that aims to improve STEM education at research universities. The Transforming Education, Stimulating Teaching and Learning Excellence, or TRESTLE, project, is being funded by a $2.2 million National Science Foundation grant.

The TRESTLE project is being led by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Program at IU’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in Bloomington. IU says the project will support teaching initiatives that "foster engaged, active learning for undergraduate students enrolled in large STEM courses."

"The TRESTLE project focuses on increasing the number of students graduating within the STEM disciplines," said George Rehrey, director of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Program. "By embracing a learner-centered approach to their teaching, faculty fellows who collaborate on this project will contribute to research that supports better learning outcomes for students both in STEM and other large introductory courses as well."

Dennis Groth, vice provost for undergraduate education, says the goal is to increase understanding, confidence and success among students on campus. He says the study could have a larger impact on universities throughout the country.

The project is being done as a collaboration between IU and seven other universities. They include the University of Kansas, Queens University of Ontario, the University of British Columbia, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of California-Davis and the University of Texas at San Antonio.