Valerie Haywood, senior instructor in the Department of Biology, recently joined the governing board of the Ohio-Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), a region network of the national organization. Haywood will be part of the Ohio-PKAL mission to promote and enhance learner-centered STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education through evidenced-based best practices, faculty development and community engagement and education. Haywood will take over for Jim Bader, director of the Leonard Gelfand STEM center, who represented Case Western Reserve University on the Ohio-PKAL board for the past two years.
Haywood has been involved in transforming biology education at CWRU since 2007, when she was named a National Academy of Science Learning Fellow after attending the National Academies Summer Institute (NASI). After her NASI experience, Haywood over-hauled her large lecture classes, transforming them into dynamic active learning environments where her students are more engaged in the course.
“I am honored to have my efforts to transform biology education recognized by my peers and excited to play a direct role in Project Kaleidescope,” Haywood said. “I hope that I can use my experiences with active learning to help other educators see the value in redesigning their classrooms to a more student-centered environment, which ultimately will help our students succeed in achieving their goals.”
The second annual OH-PKAL conference, “Evidence-Based Practices in Undergraduate STEM Education,” will be held at Capital University Saturday, May 21.
For more information about the conferent and to submit a proposal, visit aacu.org/pkal/regional/ohio/2016-cfp. Proposals will be accepted unil Dec. 15 at midnight.
Conference registration will open Feb. 1.