An Overview of Active Learning Practices in STEM Disciplines

Presentation Abstract

Join Dr. Scott Freeman, principal lecturer in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington, as he presents a high-level overview of the role of active learning in STEM disciplines and implications for technology-mediated course redesign (i.e., blended, adaptive, or online).

Show Notes

• Dr. Scott Freeman’s meta-analysis (referenced in the video): Active Learning Increases Student Performance in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

Presentation Recording

About Dr. Scott Freeman

Scott Freeman grew up in Wisconsin and received a B.A. in Biology from Carleton College in 1978. After working in environmental education and international conservation for six years, he did graduate work at the University of Washington on the molecular systematics and morphological evolution of blackbirds and received a PhD in zoology in 1991. He had a Sloan Fellowship to support a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular evolution at Princeton University, then returned to the University of Washington as Director of Public Programs at the Burke Museum. Since the mid-1990s, his focus has been on textbook writing and teaching. He co-authored Evolutionary Analysis and was sole author of Biological Science, each through four editions; both texts are in their 5th edition. He is currently Principal Lecturer in Biology at the UW, where he teaches introductory and upper-division courses and conducts research on how active learning techniques impact student performance. He is a recipient of a UW Distinguished Teaching Award.

– Learn more about Dr. Scott Freeman