Transforming Lower Division Undergraduate Mathematics Through Team-Based Inquiry Learning

本项目旨在通过提高本科数学的教与学，服务于国家利益。它打算通过实施基于团队的探究式学习来实现这一目标，这是一种基于探究式学习的协作形式，涵盖三门关键的数学入门课程（微积分I、II和线性代数）。探究性学习是一种对数学学生产生积极影响的教学方法。然而，在本科数学教学中，研究性学习主要用于高年级课程。通过在这些低年级数学课程中实施基于团队的探究学习，该项目有可能为早期STEM专业的学生提供广泛的服务。在某一机构的初步研究表明，基于团队的研究性学习可以提高学生对内容的掌握程度，并成功完成数学入门课程。该项目的研究计划将检验这些结果是否能推广到更多的机构。该项目将从多个不同的机构招募和培训两组15名数学教师，在他们的课堂上实施基于团队的研究性学习。这些教师将与研究人员合作，开发一个公开的数学团队研究性学习资源库，供其他教师在他们的课程中使用。当教师在课堂上实施基于团队的研究性学习时，将为他们提供持续的虚拟支持。教师的实践和学生的成绩将在培训前后进行评估，以确定教师需要什么水平和什么类型的支持才能有效地实施基于团队的研究性学习，从而提高学生的成功。该项目旨在通过提供关于如何在低年级数学课程中有效实施探究式学习的证据，使STEM教育界受益。此外，通过为学生提供有意义的团队合作机会，它还可以帮助学生培养团队合作技能，这对于大多数（如果不是所有）现代工作场所的成功都很重要。NSF IUSE: EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。通过参与学生学习轨道，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建，探索和实施。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving the teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics. It intends to do so by implementing Team-based inquiry learning, a collaborative form of inquiry-based learning, across three key introductory mathematics courses (Calculus I, II and Linear Algebra). Inquiry-based learning is an instructional technique shown to have many positive impacts on mathematics students. However, in undergraduate mathematics instruction, inquiry-based learning has been primarily used in upper division courses. By implementing team-based inquiry learning in these lower division mathematics courses, the project has the potential to serve a breadth of early STEM majors. Preliminary research at a single institution has shown team-based inquiry learning to improve students’ content mastery and successful completion of introductory mathematics courses. This project’s research plan will examine whether these results extend to a broad array of institutions.This project will recruit and train two cohorts of 15 mathematics faculty from multiple diverse institutions to implement team-based inquiry learning in their classrooms. These faculty will collaborate with the investigators to develop a publicly available library of mathematics team-based inquiry learning resources that other instructors can use in their courses. Ongoing virtual support will be provided to faculty as they implement team-based inquiry learning in their classes. Faculty practices and student achievement will be evaluated before and after the training in order to determine what level and what types of support are needed for faculty to effectively implement team-based inquiry learning in a way that leads to improved student success. This project aims to benefit the STEM education community by providing evidence about how inquiry-based learning can be effectively implemented in lower division mathematics courses. In addition, by providing students with meaningful opportunities to work in teams, it can also help students develop teamwork skills, which are important for success in most, if not all modern workplaces. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.