Training the next generation of engineers starts with great teachers

There are many variables that help determine a student’s success in the classroom. These can include the classroom climate, teaching practices, and the student’s background knowledge. For intro-level STEM courses, we focus on classroom climate and teaching practices, which research has shown can make students feel unwelcome, resulting in high attrition rates. Thus, one way we can invite a more diverse group into the semiconductor industry is through transforming university learning environments with a focus on classroom climate and learner experience design. However, change of this kind requires more than introducing new methods, it must also address pitfalls and challenges that hamper the adoption of new instructional approaches.