Dr. Justin Shaffer: The Importance of Structure and Scaffolding in STEM Course Design

Event Description

The CTL is pleased to welcome Dr. Justin Shaffer for this special workshop focused on designing effective STEM courses. This event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Here & Next.

About the workshop: High structure course design is an evidence-based strategy used to engage and scaffold students throughout the learning process via pre-class content acquisition and formative assessment, in-class active learning and problem solving, after-class review and practice, and frequent summative assessment. This model of course design has been shown to increase student learning, reduce performance gaps, and promote development of students’ self-regulated learning skills. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to explain what high structure course design is, describe how high structure course design is beneficial to student learning and other outcomes, and develop ideas for implementing principles of high structure course design into their own courses.

About Justin Shaffer: Justin Shaffer, PhD, is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and a Teaching Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering and in Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Justin is the author of the book High Structure Course Design which gives practical hands-on advice for creating STEM courses that engage students in and out of the classroom and improve student outcomes. Justin is an award-winning educator who has taught 8500+ students since 2012 in the areas of chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, biology, and anatomy and physiology and has published 25+ peer-reviewed journal articles and teaching materials on the efficacy of high structure courses, active learning, and related topics. Justin is the founder of Recombinant Education where he provides STEM program characterization and professional development to faculty and administrators in the areas of course and curriculum design, evidence-based teaching practices, and discipline-based education research.

If you have any questions about this event, please email Eric Fournier.

Registration