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No Lab? No Problem: Inquiry-Based and Experiential Learning in STEM

Friday, November 4, 2022

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM

Location: Potomac V&VI

Co-Presenter(s)

AT

Alex Terrana (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor of Computational Sciences
Minerva University
Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
Trisha Stan (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor of Natural Sciences
Minerva University
Newton, Massachusetts, United States
Raquel Ribeiro

Professor of Computational Sciences and Senior Academic Program Manager at Minerva Project
Minerva University and Minerva Project
San Francisco, California, United States
WC

Wolu Chukwu

Computational Biologist
Broad Institute

Program Abstract: In the sciences, pairing theoretical knowledge with hands-on experimentation is crucial for students to fully experience the scientific method. Conventional labs are meant to achieve this mission, but they often fall short with respect to open-ended inquiry, experimental design, and meaningful real-world connections. This session will showcase unique and implementable assignments from STEM courses at Minerva University that view the world as a lab, using examples such as hiking to understand concepts of thermodynamics or kinetics and fermentation to study reaction mechanisms and the scientific method. Through the examples presented, the audience will learn common challenges associated with hands-on, experimental science learning and discover the key principles to develop a framework for designing real-world experiential learning activities for a wide range of levels and course types. Participants will also be prompted and guided to generate new ideas for developing accessible, pedagogically driven, inquiry-based assignments in their own science courses.