LEADERSHIP STEPS• Understand the relevant research (UTeach/FRI), seek
informed guidance (Master teachers—UTeach)
• Consult/involve faculty leaders (UTeach) or support a faculty initiative (FRI)
• Involve students as partners
• Involve the higher administration as soon as possible—get buy in or at least a blessing.
• Do a pilot program. Don’t wait until everything is perfect
• Gather data at every step; where possible have a valid comparison group, be ready to change and improve as you learn
• Involve external supporters as part of the team
• Involve external experts, legislators, leaders to establish credibility
Know what you’re doing
Get Started!!
Know what you’ve done
Share the Dream,Create a team
Share what you’ve done
Seek support to maintain, expand and replicate
great results
Share credit !!!
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
UTEACH RECOGNITION/REPLICATION
• Uteach Task Force, UT College of Natural Sciences Foundation Advisory Coucil
• National Academy recognition
• Gathering Storm Report
• NMSI formed
• ExxonMobil, Dell gifts
• Race to the Top funding
• HHMI
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EDUCATION THROUGH RESEARCH: RESEARCH THROUGH EDUCATION
The Freshman Research Initiative: UT Austin
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Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore
Fall Fall Fall FallSpringSpring Summer*Summer* Spring* Spring*
Research MethodsIntro to
Research and Analysis
Stream Selection
Counts as Signature Course
Intro to Stream Lab TechniquesBegin ResearchCounts as a Lower Division Lab Course
Summer Research FellowshipSummer School CreditHeadstart on Fall Research
Stream ResearchCredit for Independent ResearchExpand & Complete Stream ProjectCounts as Upper Division Lab Course
Research Publication/ PresentationMentor Research MethodsJoin faculty labs, REUs, internships
*Optional
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Research Stream Name Faculty Leader(s)
Discipline(s) # 1st Spring
Vertebrate Interactome Mapping Scott Stevens Molecular Biology 35 2006
Aptamer Selection Andy Ellington Biochemistry / Biology 35 2006
Nanomaterials for Chemical Catalysis Stevenson/Vanden Bout/Crooks
Chemistry 30 2006
Supramolecular Sensors Eric Anslyn Chemistry 30 2007
Biobricks Karen Browning Biochemistry 35 2007
Discovery Lab in Plant Biology Stan Roux Biology 28 2007
Autonomous Vehicles Peter Stone Computer Science 15 2007
Computational Intelligence in Game Design Risto Miikkulainen Computer Science 20 2007
Frontiers of Liner Algebra Library Dev. Robert van de Geijn Mathematics/Computer Science 5 2007
Viral Evolution Jim Bull Biology 35 2008
Mitochondrial Gene Expression Dean Appling Biochemistry / Molecular Biology
35 2008
Virtual Drug Screening Jon Robertus Biology/Computer Science 30 2008
Computational Nanoparticles Graeme Henkelman Chemistry/Computer Science 25 2008
Electronic and Magnetic Materials Research John Markert Physics 15 2008
Peptide Mimics to Study Binding Energetics Stephen Martin Chemistry 33 2009
New Functional Materials & X-Ray Crystallography
R. Jones, B. Holliday Chemistry 25 2009
Functional Genomics Vishwanath Iyer Biology 35 2009
Cell Fate Regulation Alan Lloyd Biology 35 2009
The Search for Dark Matter Don Winget Astronomy 8 2009
Computational Biology: Studying Disease Dynamics
Wilke /Meyers Biology/Computer Science 25 2009
Special Topics in Math Research Ron Hadani Mathematics 15 2010
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Impact on Retention in Science and Math
College of Natural Science (CNS) retention data for the FRI-07 cohort and associated comparison group, plotted over a five year period so that the average five-year retention data can be shown in comparison.
45-85% increase in retention rates
Comparison groups are formed for each year from freshman not in FRI, who meet the same FRI requirements
The resulting comparison group is:• Statistically indistinguishable in terms of
predicted first semester GPA • Demographically similar to FRI students• Comparable in number of risk students included
45%
85%
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4-YR GRADUATION RATES COMPARED 4-YR GRADUATION RATES COMPARED
17
32% FRI students
9% comparison
groupFRI06 CNS non-honors graduates (N=57)
CMP06 CNS non-honors graduates (N=146)
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Annual Report 2010: Cumulative (2005-2010) list of refereed journal publications co-authored by FRI student participants
FRI RECOGNITION/REPLICATION
• HHMI Funding
• NSF Funding
• FRI Task Force, UT College of Natural Sciences Foundation Advisory Council
• BHEF recognition
• PCAST recognition
• HHMI replication
LEADERSHIP STEPS• Understand the relevant research (UTeach/FRI), seek
informed guidance (Master teachers—UTeach)
• Consult/involve faculty leaders (UTeach) or support a faculty initiative (FRI)
• Involve students as partners
• Involve the higher administration as soon as possible—get buy in or at least a blessing.
• Do a pilot program. Don’t wait until everything is perfect
• Gather data at every step; where possible have a valid comparison group, be ready to change and improve as you learn
• Involve external supporters as part of the team
• Involve external experts, legislators, leaders to establish credibility
Know what you’re doing
Get Started!!
Know what you’ve done
Share the Dream,Create a team
Share what you’ve done
Seek support to maintain, expand and replicate
great results
Share credit !!!
21
• Connects undergraduates with authentic, advanced research projects from the beginning of their first semester on campus as part of their regular course of study
• Provides a better learning experience for students that keeps them in STEM instead of driving them away!!!!!
• Shows students the excitement of discovery, provides experience with cutting edge technology and prepares them for additional hands-on experience in labs or internships
• Gives students access to faculty mentors and the community of science• Is scalable, both in numbers and disciplines, and makes a unique, authentic
research experience available to a large portion of the freshman class. - Over 6 years > 2300 freshman have participated- Again in 2011-12, > 650 students enrolled in FRI, 33% of the incoming Natural
Sciences class,>40% from underrepresented groups- 70 % still researching at the end of their 4th year
• Merges the twin missions of a research university: Research and Education• Is especially effective with students not traditionally well-represented in science
practice• Retains and helps our students succeed in a science, technology or
mathematics degree plan and ecruits them to scientific careers
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67% Continuing in Research for 4 years
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