This national conference bridges the gap between learning and cognitive theories and STEM education by featuring cutting-edge research on innovations in higher education in a variety of STEM fields. This is the fourth conference in a series titled Integrating Cognitive Science with Innovative Teaching in STEM Disciplines that started at Washington University in the Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning and Education.
Modeling processes are central in science and engineering and model-based reasoning processes are central to conceptual change. This conference brings together cognitive scientists, STEM educators, discipline-based educational researchers and learning scientists to learn and discuss how modeling and model-based reasoning come into play in undergraduate education in science and engineering. Some of the talks will be devoted to the precollege years, but the focus will be on undergraduate education. It is expected that most of the audience will have some expertise in these particular topics, so the invited talks will be long enough to give substantial background, but still leave time for questions. Further discussions will take place in two poster sessions and over meals.
The 2016 conference will follow the format of previous conferences were held at Washington University in St. Louis and Northwestern University. The conference is limited to 100 participants with the goal of representing STEM fields broadly. Attendees are welcome to submit posters on any topic related to models and model-based reasoning of interest to STEM educators, and/or to cognitive scientists in the field of university education. Learn more on how to apply here.
We would like to thank our sponsor, the Purdue University Polytechnic Institute, for their generous funding and assistance in holding this conference.