Inclusive STEM Teaching Spring 2023

Bio 131: Systemic Physiology

✒︎ Inclusive Course Design ✒︎ Peer to Peer Community ✒︎ Growth Mindset

Reflection on Instructional Change:

I decided to focus on the topics of Cultivating connection and Peer-to-Peer Community. These topics are crucial to a course's welcoming and inclusive nature. Students in my class spend significant time with their peers and me. Allowing them to feel comfortable and welcome is crucial for their learning.

One practice I started using and aim to continue using in my course is the group exam. I use a portion of each exam time to facilitate a group exam where students work together to answer questions. While some students may contribute more than others in a group exam, leading to resentment and frustration. However, aside from better mimicking the future working environment of most students, this practice also pushes students to get to know their peers and learn how to work with them. That also means I need to provide them with opportunities to work together throughout the term.

The second topic I decided to focus on is growth mindset. Somewhat related to the previous topic, focusing on a growth mindset develops a learning environment that focuses on the learning process rather than the final outcome, the grade.

I am and will continue to strive to create an environment where students feel safe to take risks and make mistakes. This means celebrating errors as opportunities for learning. For example, you could have a "mistake wall" where students can post their mistakes and learn from each other. I also provide reflection opportunities for students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and think about ways to improve their weaknesses. Lastly, I celebrate student progress, no matter how small.

Evidence of Instructional Change

Me visiting a self-assembled study group for my class.

Growth mindset reflection

Short reflection of areas of my course in which I can include growth mindset. PLC Deliverable.

Course Syllabus

4. Pre FLC Course Syllabus and Schedule:

BIO 131 Syllabus Spring 2023 AD.pdf

Post FLC Course Syllabus and Schedule:

BIO 131 Syllabus Spring 2023 AD_More Inclusive.pdf

Faculty Bio

Professional photo of the text author, a young-ish mixed-race man wearing a pink button-up shirt and a red bow tie.

Hi! My name is Arik Davidyan. I am, still, the newest tenure-track faculty member at the Department of Biological Sciences. I am an exercise physiologist with experience in performing basic research related to skeletal muscle, aging, metabolism, and exercise. My research at Sac State, however, focuses on biology education and my goal is to improve the experience and academic outcomes of students from historically marginalized communities in STEM and transfer students.

75 years as Sacramento's University 1947-2022

This work was supported by:

Grant funding from Sacramento State Division of Inclusive Excellence

*Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sacramento State.