Goals and Strategy

Institutional Goals

• Support integration and coordination of existing STEM education organizations and individuals.
• Develop institutional support for STEM education reform and improvement (Adoption of CIRTL Pillars, HPL framework, technologies, other methods).

Goals in Graduate Education and Faculty Development

• Institute future faculty preparation for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows through:
  • TAR Projects
  • Courses
  • Workshops
  • Certification
• Improve STEM education through the dissemination of education methods and by supporting teaching skills of the faculty.
• Encourage scholarship and research in STEM education.

Outreach

• Disseminate methods outside VU and the CIRTL Network, including precollege outreach.

Strategy

• Identify faculty, fellows and graduate students interested in developing their teaching abilities and skills.
• Provide workshops, courses and other training for these individuals.
• Develop teaching improvement projects in selected STEM courses performed by faculty, fellows and graduate students.
• Use available resources to create a new culture and community of educational development and improvement in the STEM disciplines.
• Seek additional training and research support for STEM education at Vanderbilt.