Events at Physics |
STEM professionals need to be skilled in teamwork and communication to be most effective in the workplace. Course content is often focused on disciplinary technical skills, with less focus placed on ensuring students have the professional skills they need to succeed. Modeling the instruction of professional skills through the use of inclusive teaching practices contributes to students’ growth by improving team dynamics and student learning outcomes, and in turn reduces the time instructors spend managing teams. In this session we will share specific examples of inclusive teaching strategies used to instruct teamwork such as team contracts for setting expectations in teams and strategies to encourage peer feedback. We will also briefly share on the development of the Engineering4All community of practice that we have created in the College of Engineering to support instructors and the integration of professional skills such as teamwork and communication in STEM education.
Speaker Bios:
Angela Kita (she/her) is committed to improving learning experiences for all students through classroom innovation, program development, and fostering community. Her passion for all things teaching and learning began through teaching experiences as a graduate student, particularly working with non-biology majors exploring the various systems and structures found in animal phylogeny. She has worked collaboratively with faculty and staff on curriculum development, improved instructor support, and cross-campus projects. As a member of the Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, she is excited to build and grow partnerships that better connect students to their learning, their passions, and their goals.
Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology (University of Wisconsin, Madison); B.S. Molecular and Cell Biology (University of California, Berkeley)
Christa Wille (she/her) is passionate about using research to advance teaching and learning in higher education, especially in engineering. Through her lived experiences as a learner across multiple disciplines, her leadership in instructional design of a flipped classroom in her biomechanics courses, and her extensive background in research, Christa is well suited to support scholarship of teaching and learning projects in the College of Engineering. As a member of the Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, she is eager to help use research to advocate for and support educational practices that ensure inclusive and effective teaching and learning practices for all engineering students and instructors alike.
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (University of Wisconsin, Madison); M.S. Biomedical Engineering (University of Wisconsin, Madison); Doctor of Physical Therapy (University of Wisconsin, Madison); B.S. Biomedical Engineering (University of Wisconsin, Madison)