Course Redesign



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Important Dates for the 2015-2016
Course-Redesign Projects

    • March 16, 2015: Gateway Science and Math Course Redesign Team proposals due. Submit to Gary Smith (gsmith@unm.edu) 
    • March 30, 2015: Gateway Science and Math Course Redesign Individual proposals due. Submit to Gary Smith (gsmith@unm.edu)
    • April 10, 2015: Selection of successful course redesign projects announced. 
    • May 14, 15, 18, 2015: Course-redesign members must attend STEM Gateway Redesign Institute (2.5 days)
    • June 1-August 15, 2015: Course-redesign teams develop proposed curriculum and pedagogical redesign elements; informal meetings between teams and between teams and STEM Gateway facilitators. 
    • August 17, 2015: Revised syllabus for fall-semester implementation provided to STEM Gateway by course-redesign teams (with designated sections for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 implementation).
    • 2014-2015 Academic Year: Implementation of redesign with collection of assessment data. STEM Gateway will advise throughout the process and arrange for ongoing monthly learning sessions with the combined teams as a faculty learning community.


Program Description

Each year of the grant period, UNM’s STEM Gateway Program will support three, gateway-STEM course-redesign projects facilitated by STEM Gateway staff. In 2015-2016, STEM Gateway will also allow individuals or partners to submit course redesign project proposals.  Each course-redesign effort will be defined by internally-solicited proposals from departments targeted by the project (those teaching one or more of 25 gateway life/physical science or mathematics courses: Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Planetary Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy).

The proposals will include a commitment to implement the five elements for a scientific approach to optimization of science education (modified from the Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative, University of British Columbia and the Top 25 Project at Miami University).
  • Specification of measurable learning goals
  • Rigorous objective assessment of student achievement of these goals
  • Implementation of teaching methods aimed at maximizing achievement with respect to the specified goals, that are consistent with empirically established results and principles
    • Use methods to actively engage students in their learning and with other learners and, wherever appropriate, employ inquiry-driven approaches to learning
    • Reduce the amount of class time spent on low-level memory or descriptive material by incorporating approaches to facilitate students learning this material outside of class
    • Methods are built on specific student learning outcomes tied to assessment that continuously monitors student learning and modifies the course as necessary
  • Means for easy dissemination and duplication of materials, methods, and technology
  • Sustainable and continued optimization based on results of assessment

Course Redesign Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students

Dr. Gary Smith
Principal Investigator, STEM Gateway

Audriana Stark
Graduate Assistant, STEM Gateway

Year One MATH 121 Team:
Derek Martinez, Mathematics and Statistics
Ivana Gorgievska, Lecturer III, Mathematics and Statistics
Linda Martin, Full-time Instructor, Central New Mexico College
Karen Sorensen-Unruh, Graduate Assistant

Year One CHEM 122 Team:
Dr. Joseph Ho, Director of Chemical Education, Lecturer III, Research Professor
Dr. Stephen Cabaniss, Department Chair of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Professor
Dr. Sushilla Knottenbelt, Visiting Assistant Professor
Dr. Shaorang Yang, Part-time Faculty
Clarissa Sorensen-Unruh, Full-time Instructor, Central New Mexico College
Sarah Keating, Graduate Assistant
Christopher Larsen, Graduate Assistant

Year One PHYC 160 Team:
Dr. Douglas Fields, Associate Professor
Dr. James Thomas, Associate Professor
Dr. Jeff Saul, Lecturer
Dr. Dinesh Loomba, Associate Professor
Mary Odom, Full-time Instructor, Central New Mexico College
Katherine DeBlasio, Graduate Assistant

Year Two CHEM 121 Team:
Dr. Joseph Ho, Director of Chemical Education, Lecturer III, Research Professor
Dr. David J. Keller, Associate Professor
Dr. Sushilla Knottenbelt, Visiting Assistant Professor
Dr. Shaorang Yang, Part-time Faculty
Clarissa Sorensen-Unruh, Full-time Instructor, Central New Mexico College
Sarah Keating, Graduate Assistant

Year Two PHYC 140/160 Team:
Dr. Mark Morgan-Tracy, Lecturer
Dr. Jeff Saul, Lecturer
Dr. James Thomas, Associate Professor
Mary Odom, Full-time Instructor, Central New Mexico College
Jacob Miller, Graduate Assistant

Year Two BIOL 204 Team:
Dr. David Hanson, Associate Professor
Dr. Blair Wolf, Associate Professor
Dr. Marieken Shaner, Lecturer
Thomas Kennedy, Biology Instructor, Central New Mexico College
John Roesgen, Graduate Assistant

Year Three BIOL 202 Team:
Dr. Kelly Howe, Senior Lecturer III
Dr Ulfar Bergthorsson, Associate Professor
Ms. Cara Lea Council-Garcia, Senior Lecturer II
Mr. Shawn Wright, Biology Instructor
Ms. Rae Devan, Graduate Student

Year Three BIO 204 Team:
David Hanson, Associate Professor
Blair Wolf, Professor
William Pockman, Professor
Heather Fitzgerald, Biology Faculty
Elizabeth Beckman, Graduate Assistant

Year Three MATH 116 Team:
Dr. Derek Martinez, Senior Lecturer, Coordinator Math 121
Precious Andrew, Adjunct Instructor
Tim Burkopeck, Lecturer II , Coordinator Math 123/150
Sandra Renee Ward, Adjunct Instructor
Huynh Dinh, CNM Instructor
Karen Sorensen-Unruh, Graduate Assistant

Year Four ENVS 102L Team:
Aurora Pun, Lecturer III
Dylan Garcia, Graduate Assistant

Year Four CHEM 101 Team:
Julia Fulghum, Professor
Cristyn Elder, Assistant Professor

Year Four CHEM 131/132 Team:
H. Guo, Professor
Joseph Ho, Principal Lecturer III
Dianna Habel-Rodirguez, Lecturer
Nicholas Keyes, Graduate Assistant

Year Four BIO 203/203L Team:
Jenn Rudgers, Associate Professor
Cara Lea Council-Garcia, Principal Lecturer
Ken Whitney, Associate Professor
Seth Newsome, Assistant Professor


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