Fulton Schools of Engineering Education Seminars (SEEdS) – Learning Analytics with Tim McKay

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SEEdS

Fulton Schools of Engineering Education Seminars (SEEdS) – Learning Analytics

Guest Speaker: Tim McKay (University of Michigan)

Date: March 21, 2025 | Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm MST

Location: Zoom

Equity and Efficacy: Using Data to Drive Transformation in Foundational STEM courses

Seminar Description: Foundational STEM courses at research universities often adopt a shared set of structures, including large class sizes, passive lectures, high stakes, inauthentic examinations, extensive content coverage, and more. Decades of research suggest that many of these structures are both less effective and less equitable than alternative approaches. Continued reliance on them has earned these courses a long-standing, nation-wide reputation as exclusionary gateways; driving away capable students interested in STEM disciplines, often in inequitable ways. In this talk, I will review some of this research, including new multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary results from the SEISMIC collaboration, and argue that increasing the efficacy and equity of these courses requires structural change. Structural change is challenging, and often requires institutional support. I will discuss examples of reform efforts that have successfully encouraged and enabled lasting change.

Pre-Reading: In January 2025, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics issued a new report entitled “Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education: Supporting Equitable and Effective Teaching.” This report provides a good overview of our current understanding of the challenges McKay will address, and highlights the essential importance of data informed change.

Tim McKay is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics, Astronomy, and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. McKay received a BS in Physics from Temple University, where he was a first-generation, commuter student. He received his PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago in 1992, and joined the faculty at Michigan in 1995.

McKay’s team has applied observational and experimental data science methods to astrophysics, cosmology, and education. They have probed the growth of cosmic structure as well as the expansion history of the Universe, especially through studies of galaxy clusters and gravitational lensing. They have discovered prompt optical counterparts to gamma-ray bursts and many other astrophysical transients. Since 2008, they have been using classroom and institutional data to make higher education more equitable, inclusive, and effective. In the last few years, McKay has helped to launch the Foundational Course Initiative, the Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses (SEISMIC) project, the Mellon College and Beyond II study, and the Mellon Transfer Bridges to the Humanities Project.

More about Fulton Schools of Engineering Educ

ation Seminars (SEEdS) 

LTH will continue to host monthly guest speaker seminars for the community to regularly learn about and discuss topics related to Engineering Education. The seminars, formerly known as the Teaching Community of Practice (TCP), are open to anyone interested in the FSE community. See our professional learning calendar for the most up to date information and other opportunities.

Spring 2025 | Third Fridays | 12pm-1pm MST | via Zoom