What is this project?

In its quest to advance the primary goal of the STEP program—to increase the number of trained professionals in science, technology, engireering, and mathematics—the Peer Instruction for Student Engagement project has two goals of its own.  It seeks to increase student learning in certain freshman math, science, and computer science courses by placing peer instructors (PIs) in classes, and it seeks to determine whether doing this increases students' engagement with the course material.  Student engagement is defined to be what the National Survey of Student Engagement measures.

The courses supported by peer instructors are freshman courses, either those required of majors or those from which majors are often recruited.  PIs work only three hours per week; part of the project's interest is whether this very economical arrangement can actually make a difference in engagement and learning.

PIs do different jobs in different departments.  In Chemistry and Geology, they play a rôle very similar to that played by Supplemental Instruction leaders in institutions lucky enough to have that program.  In Astronomy, PIs serve as classroom aides implementing a program very similar to the University of Washington's Tutorials in Introductory Physics program.  In Biology and Computer Science, PIs serve as lab assistants.  In Mathematics, PIs facilitate sessions in which students solve problems (set by the faculty) in small groups.