In this session from the 2024 TXST STEM Conference, faculty from the Biology and Chemistry & Biochemistry departments who participated in the first Course Transformation project share successful strategies they developed to support student learning. Panelists include Dr. David R. Johnson, Dr. Manish Kumar, Dr. Erica N. Nierth, Dr. MJ Patterson, and Mr. Duke W. Willoughby.
Course Transformation Project
The Course Transformation Project focuses on improving student performance in large-enrollment general education courses with high DFW (Drop, Fail, Withdraw) rates. Faculty teams explore ways to improve student learning by incorporating student-centered, evidence-based design and teaching practices at the course level.
Watch our Roundtable Session
About the Program
Working at the course level provides a scalable and replicable way of effecting positive change. Dr. Candace Hastings, director of Faculty Development, initiated the program and acts as project manager and team facilitator. Financial support for the project is cost-shared by the Office of the Provost, the College of Science and Engineering, and the Generación STEM Title III grant program. The program has been recognized by THECB in their Texas Student Success Program Initiative and was identified as a program poised for high potential and impact by the Ithaka Research group.
DFW rates of courses...in the Course Transformations program dropped 10% in the first year in Chemistry 1 and 14% in Chemistry 2.
ITHAKA Research case study
In the News
In Spring 2024, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) added the Course Transformation Project to its Texas Student Success Program Initiative hub of impactful and innovative student success programs, part of its Open Educational Resources repository. The program is included in their collections of OER that improve retention and persistence and improve academic performance.