The College of Engineering at Michigan State University has established the Center for Engineering Education Research, or CEER, at MSU.
CEER will provide a focus to expand engineering education research in the college, engage more faculty in engineering education research, and work collaboratively with colleagues in other colleges across campus who are researching issues in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the STEM education areas. The ultimate goal for CEER is to become an internationally recognized resource for STEM research.
“Nationally, there is a growing realization that there has to be support for engineering education research at the undergrad level, due to challenges like outsourcing and globalization,” said Jon Sticklen, director of CEER, who also is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and director of the Applied Engineering Sciences program.
“There must be fundamental changes in the way engineering education is conducted, and changes should have a basis in fact. Innovation in instruction and educational research —to determine what works and why it works — go hand in glove. Without systematic evaluation and research, classroom and curricular innovation is rudderless.”
As well as fostering engineering education research, CEER will support faculty who have not traditionally been engaged in engineering education research.
“The center will help them develop an evidence base for their innovative ideas in the classroom,” Sticklen said. “This is what we do in engineering research in general. We test things in our labs, and then we take the results that we get and we tell the world about them. That’s a research community. What we’re aiming to do with CEER is to transfer that same research philosophy to the instructional enterprise.”
“A historic thread of engineering education research runs throughout MSU’s College of Engineering,” said Satish Udpa, dean of MSU’s College of Engineering. “Innovation in the classroom is not a new concept here; we have a substantial track record in this area. Now, CEER will provide a focus to support and encourage this work.”
“We expect to become an internationally relevant center,” Sticklen said. “And that, in turn, will enhance engineering education here in MSU’s College of Engineering.”
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