Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM

The Westminster TIDES project has developed a set of culturally sensitive POGIL activities for a non-majors CS course.

check out past workshops

Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) is a student-centered pedagogy that focuses on the simultaneous development of knowledge and process skills (such as critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and leadership). Students develop these skills by working in the framework of learning teams on specifically designed inquiry-based activities that guide them through the construction of course content.These activities have been adopted by faculty at Cornell College, James Madison University, Saint Xavier University, and Western New England University for their own CS courses for non-majors.The Westminster course (WCSAM 102: Computer Science Principles) was paired with three other courses as Learning Communities:

1. a CS and Biology Learning Community targeting non-science majors.
2. a CS and Chemistry Learning Community for science majors
3. a CS and Sociology Learning Community for all students

Project Resources

• Levels of Student Participation and Stages of Relevant Curriculum
• Rubric for Culturally Responsive Lessons
• POGIL Activities for CS Principles (CS 0)

Funding Agency

AAC&U Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM