Jackson State University News September 22, 2016 Flipped' STEM classes earn $350,000 NSF grant The National Science Foundation has awarded a $350,000 grant for "Investigating the Effect of Active Flipped Learning in STEM Education" to the engineering, education and mathematics departments at Jackson State University. According to flippedlearning.org, the "flipped" educational approach can be simply defined as "school work at home and homework at school." Dr. Lin Li, professor of engineering and principal investigator for the grant, feels the novel teaching style "gives students more responsibility in the learning process." Li will be heading the project with Jianjun Yun, professor in the university's Education Department and co-principal investigator; Dr. Frashad Amini, engineering professor and Dr. Tor Kwembe, chair of the math department. Together, they will evaluate the impact of "flipped learning" on JSU students in the disciplines of Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) in contrast to a traditional learning environment. "We are very excited about this new NSF grant. This complements four other existing NSF grants in our department. This project, by introducing an innovative educational approach, addresses the underlying issues affecting the graduation rates in STEM education," said Amini. Li explains that in a traditional classroom students typically sit and listen to a lecture from their teachers and then go home and apply what they have learned during the execution of their homework. In the "flipped learning" project, JSU students will access their professor's lectures online and listen to their lesson before attending class. Instructors meet with students at their regularly scheduled period to answer any questions that stem from the online lecture, which allows educators more time to address any challenges students may encounter with processing the lesson. According to Li, there will be five phases of the process: First phase: Faculty will be trained to understand the components of the flip classroom; faculty will record their lectures and upload them to "Blackboard" - JSU's online teaching tool. Second phase: The flip and traditional learning method will be applied to one predetermined lecture class. Students will be surveyed and samples collected once completed. Third phase: Based on student and instructor feedback, methods are adjusted to make the process more efficient. Fourth phase: Apply revised methods to four classes (Calculus I and III; Physics I and Mechanical Engineering I), totaling approximately 360 STEM students. Fifth phase: Review results, write reports and make recommendations. The grant research began Sept. 1 and will conclude Aug. 30, 2019. "This is a wonderful opportunity for both education and CSET students. It shows the hard work and team efforts of all involved for the betterment of students and JSU as a learning community," said Dr. Daniel Watkins, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. 7th Biennial Membership Meeting: Register here http://hbculibraries.org/2016meeting-form.html for the October 10,11 Membership Meeting in Atlanta Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/