A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) in the classroom

• In Event: Teaching and Learning Symposium Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 5: Mentorship and Research in the Classroom

Abstract

I teach at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) community college in Washington State. As we look into the future in the middle of all the disruptions this year and explore new innovative ways to teaching and learning for meaningful changes, the Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) allowed me to try something different and pioneer teaching students to do undergraduate research at the community college level.

Research should be equitable. Typically, community college students do not get the opportunity to be involved in doing research and therefor lack research skills and experiences. This project is changing that and students get CUREs in my classrooms. This presentation details the innovative approach and steps I take in helping students gain experience in doing research at the community college level by investigating and reviewing literature and using critical thinking skills and sociological imaginations in the process. Students compile their research findings and formulate ideas for a paper and a presentation with sociological perspectives. Summative and formative assessments are used to evaluate student learning and project outcomes.

The approach involves faculty learning communities in developing the project, implementing the project and assessing student achievements. This presentation introduces and explores this innovative approach, and some strategies to teach community college students to do research, and assess their learning and effectiveness. Students are exposed to doing research which strengthens their academic preparedness and broadens their horizons. Thoughtful techniques are utilized in the teaching to increase student understanding, student engagement and to promote active learning. This presentation will help audience members to broaden their knowledge and get ideas to the CUREs approach and enhance their own teaching. Participants could gain information on developing sociological imaginations, critical thinking, and cultural awareness strategies which they could use in their own classrooms.

Author

• Yongsheng Sun, Columbia Basin College