MIT Teaching and Learning Lab Webinars

Beyond Content: Teaching for Civic Participation and Engagement

Dr. Bryan Dewsbury, Florida International University
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 2 pm ET (ONLINE)


Dr. Bryan Dewsbury will explore the ways in which we can reconnect our classroom practice with the values, behaviors and mindsets needed for a socially just society.

All are welcome! Please register via Zoom

About the Speaker

Bryan Dewsbury is Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Director of the STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University. He is the Principal Investigator of the Science Education and Society (SEAS) research program, a team blending research on the social context of teaching and learning, faculty development of inclusive practices, and programming to cultivate equity in education. Previously, he was at the University of Rhode Island. Bryan is a Fellow with the John N. Gardner Institute, where he assists institutions of higher education cultivate best practices in inclusive education.

Creating a Classroom Climate that Supports Student Engagement in Active Learning 

Dr. Sarah Eddy, University of Minnesota

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 2 pm ET (ONLINE)

Creating a Classroom Climate that Supports Student Engagement in Active Learning Active learning classrooms ask students to engage with coursework differently than traditional classrooms. Not only do they ask students to invest more effort into directly engaging with the content, they often require students to work collaboratively with their peers while learning. The risk of “getting it wrong” in front of their peers can prevent some students from fully engaging in active learning classrooms. Instructors can generate student buy-in and foster students’ willingness to take risks through classroom climate. Classroom climate can be characterized by the values, norms, and relationships present in a course. In this talk, we will explore the ways in which instructors can foster student engagement in active learning by emphasizing the relevance of content, setting norms that encourage mastery goals and peer cooperation, and developing high-quality instructor-student relationships. 
All are welcome! Please register via Zoom
About the Speaker Dr. Sarah Eddy is Associate Professor of Biology Teaching and Learning in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. They received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Oregon State University. Sarah completed a postdoctoral scholarship in biology education at the University of Washington. Trained as a behavioral ecologist, Sarah has shifted from studying behavior in a field setting to behavior in college classrooms. Their lab engages in rigorous research to generate data and resources that support science instructors in creating content and course climates that promote student belonging, motivation, and a sense that their unique backgrounds and experiences are a strength within science. In addition to scholarly publications, Sarah’s work has been featured in the New York TimesThe AtlanticScience, and Insight into Diversity.

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