Friday, 21 February 2025 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 4

Speaker: Professor Ryan Sweeder

Host: Dr Reyne Pullen

Title: Using Chemistry Education Research to Support Effective Student Learning Outside the Classroom

Abstract: In today’s digital age, students increasingly rely on online resources such as simulations and YouTube videos to supplement their chemistry learning. Some of these resources are provided by instructors while others are discovered by students through their own searching. This seminar will showcase how findings from chemistry education research can be leveraged to guide students’ out-of-class studying. It will include insights about how instructors can effectively structure supports for students learning from simulations outside of the classroom. Additionally, we will introduce an evaluation framework for educational videos that employs research-backed criteria—including 3-Dimensional Learning, causal mechanistic reasoning, the levels of representation from Johnstone’s Triangle, and multimedia learning theories. This framework can help guide us toward identifying quality videos that can meaningfully support students’ conceptual learning of chemistry.

Bio: Ryan Sweeder is a Professor at Michigan State University and is the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs at Lyman Briggs College. He teaches chemistry in LBC. His research entails mix of Chemistry Education Research (CER) and Student Success Research. His CER focuses on improving student success in general chemistry through the use of technology and the incorporation of 3-Dimensional Learning pedagogies. His broader efforts toward student success focus on understanding and improving equitable outcomes for students across STEM courses. As part of this work, Sweeder was the MSU Director for the Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses (SEISMIC) Collaboration from 2020-2023.