Improving STEM Education Together
Effective STEM course design is critically important for maximizing student engagement and improving student outcomes. Whether it be the syllabus, a single lesson, or an entire course, using evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs) improve student outcomes and are therefore a potent strategy to recruit new students, improve student performance, increase student retention, and fix the “leaky pipeline” in STEM. When tailored to your own specific institution and instructional situation, you will be able to use EBIPs to help your STEM students successfully navigate your program and achieve exceptional career goals. Let’s work together to help you adopt EBIPs, document the positive benefits from using EBIPs, and celebrate your commitment to improving student outcomes at your institution.
Making Impacts Happen
Dr. Justin Shaffer applies his extensive 12+ year experience in the classroom as a STEM teaching professor, his skills in discipline-based education research studying course design and active learning, and his enthusiasm for working with faculty and future faculty to partner with you on professional development opportunities to learn about EBIPs and how they can transform your program, faculty, and student outcomes. Contact Justin to partner with him on workshops, keynotes, seminars, consulting projects, and more related to STEM course design and teaching.
Partnering for Change
Justin is proud to partner with Almy Education to support redesigns for introductory STEM curricula. Work with Justin and Almy Education to re-envision your STEM course design in terms of curriculum, advising, and registration, all with the goal of improving student outcomes and faculty and staff satisfaction. We’ll help you achieve gateway success at scale for introductory biology, general chemistry, college math courses, and more.
Let’s Work Together on STEM Course Design
Reach out to Justin to schedule a time to chat about ways to partner to improve STEM course design and student outcomes in your program. Whether you are starting from scratch with adopting EBIPs and documenting their impacts or have established methods in place, Justin will be able to help you positively transform your program which will result in increased student recruitment, retention, and overall success.
“I appreciate Justin’s facilitating our move forward and improving our curriculum. Many of our faculty have never gone through this type of process, so Justin not only helped us design courses that will provide a better educational experience but educated our faculty as well. Justin helped us improve both faculty and student success. We are excited about these courses.”
Robert Dearth, Founding Director and Professor, School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
“Dr. Shaffer conducted a professional development workshop for BYU. He is a dynamic and engaging speaker. The workshop highlighted practical, straightforward methods to engage students more effectively. He coupled his expertise in pedagogy with compelling data on the effectiveness of these techniques. Justin was able to engage a large group of faculty from a variety of disparate disciplines and provide them all with relevant skills. Our faculty walked away inspired as well as prepared to transform their courses into high structure learning environments. I would definitely recommend him!”
Jamie Jensen, Professor, Department of Biology, BYU
“Justin is a fantastic workshop presenter, instructor, and collaborator. His enthusiasm and knowledge of subjects such as course design and active learning clearly show through in his presentations, in which he makes everyone feel engaged, welcome, and inspired. I highly recommend your department or teaching and learning center to invite Justin so that he can work with and inspire your colleagues too.”
Sami Raut, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Upcoming Events
May 2025
University of Guelph COESP Day
Keynote: High-Structure Teaching in Large Courses: What Works, What Matters
Virtual
May 2025
Ohio Strong Start in Science (partnering with Almy Education)
Workshop: Adding “how-to-student” skills to gateway STEM courses
Virtual
May 2025
California Outcomes Assessment Coordinators Hub (COACHes) SLO Talks
Talk: Impacts of high structure course design on student success
Virtual
August 2025
National Institute on Scientific Teaching National Meeting
Workshop: High Structure Course Design for STEM Disciplines
Denver, CO
Aug 2025
South Dakota School of Mines
Workshop: High Structure Course Design for STEM Disciplines
Rapid City, SD
Sept 2025
University of South Carolina College of Engineering
Seminar and Workshop: High Structure Course Design for Engineering
Columbia, SC
Engaging faculty and improving STEM course design worldwide
Previous partners for workshops, keynotes, and seminars
Company Info
Recombinant Education LLC
Founded by Justin Shaffer, PhD
Golden, CO
Contact
Let’s work together! Please contact me to discuss your unique circumstances, scheduling, rates, and questions.