1. The professional identity of STEM faculty as instructors of course-based research experiences
- Author
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David Hanauer, Richard Alvey, Ping An, Christa Bancroft, Kristen Butela, Sean Coleman, Kari L. Clase, Parks Collins, Stephanie Conant, Pamela Connerly, Bernadette Connors, Megan K. Dennis, Erin L. Doyle, Dustin Edwards, Christy Fillman, Ann Findley, Victoria J. Frost, Maria Gainey, Urszula Golebiewska, Nancy Guild, Sharon B. Gusky, Allison Johnson, Kristen Johnson, Karen K. Klyczek, Julia Lee-Soety, Heather Lindberg, Matthew D. Mastropaolo, Julie A. Merkle, Jon Mitchell, Sally Molloy, Fernando Nieto, Jillian Nissen, Tiara Perez Morales, Nick T. Peters, Susanne P. Pfeifer, Richard Pollenz, Mary L. Preuss, Germán Rosas-Acosta, Margaret S. Saha, Amy Sprenkle, C. Nicole Sunnen, Deborah Tobiason, Sara S. Tolsma, Vassie Ware, Yesmi Patricia Ahumada-Santos, Regina V. Alvarez, Justin Anderson, Mary Ayuk, María Elena Báez-Flores, Dondra Bailey, Frederick Baliraine, Elizabeth Behr, Andrea R. Beyer, Suparna Bhalla, Lisa M. Bono, Donald P. Breakwell, Christine Byrum, Iain Duffy, Alyssa Gleichsner, Melinda Harrison, Renee Ho, Lee E. Hughes, Jacob D. Kagey, Kathryn Kohl, Sean McClory, Alison Moyer, Maria A. Mussi, Holly Nance, Imade Y. Nsa, Shallee T. Page, Jesús Ricardo Parra Unda, Jessica Rocheleau, Sarah Swerdlow, Kara Thoemke, Megan S. Valentine, Quinn C. Vega, Catherine Ward, Daniel C. Williams, Ellen Wisner, William H. Biederman, Steven G. Cresawn, Mark J. Graham, Graham Hatfull, Danielle Heller, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Denise Monti, Pushpa Ramakrishna, Daniel Russell, and Viknesh Sivanathan
- Subjects
inclusive research and education community ,Science Education Alliance ,course-based research experience ,STEM faculty professional identity ,undergraduate science education ,Education (General) ,L7-991 - Abstract
The professional identity of scientists has historically been cultivated to value research over teaching, which can undermine initiatives that aim to reform science education. Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE) and the inclusive Research and Education Communities (iREC) are two successful and impactful reform efforts that integrate research and teaching. The aim of this study is to explicate the professional identity of instructors who implement a CRE within an established iREC and to explore how this identity contributes to the success of these programs. 97 CRE instructors from the Science Education Alliance (SEA) iREC participated in a 2-year, multi-stage, qualitative research project that involved weekly reflective journaling, autoethnographic description, small group evaluation and writing, and large-scale community checking. The resulting description of professional identity consisted of shared values (inclusivity, student success, community membership, ownership/agency, science, overcoming failure, and persistence), specified roles (mentor, advocate, scientist, educator, motivator, collaborator, community builder, learner, evaluator and project manager) and a stated sense of self (dedicated, resilient, pride in students, multiskilled, valued, community member, responsible and overworked). Analysis of individual reflective diary entries revealed how a professional identity underpinned and facilitated the ways in which faculty addressed challenges that arose and worked toward the success of every student. It is the self-concept of the professional identity of the instructor in the context of the CRE classroom that directed the extended commitment and effort that these instructors evidently put into their work with students, which facilitated student engagement, student persistence, and their collective scientific output. The study concludes that a professional identity of STEM faculty in the context of a CRE and iREC combines being a researcher and educator, and that this integrated identity is central for current initiatives aimed at transforming undergraduate STEM education.
- Published
- 2024
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