Psychologist Jenny Wiley Receives a National Science Foundation Grant for the “Small Group Activities that Support Learning” Project
Jenny Wiley, professor of Psychology, just received a National Science Foundation Grant entitled Small Group Activities that Support Learning. The 3-year project will explore the effectiveness of different activity structures for learning foundational concepts in gateway STEM courses. The studies attempt to answer a practical question that many teachers have asked – What size groups are best for learning? Is it better for each student to work individually? Are small groups more effective? Which size groups are most effective and why? And, are online collaborative activities as effective as (or more effective than) in-person?
The project will investigate which instructional contexts provide the most support for student success in gateway STEM courses, and especially for those students who are less prepared for college-level work, to promote and encourage persistence in later STEM courses and careers.