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Improving STEM Education Together


Effective STEM course design and teaching are critically important for maximizing student engagement and improving student outcomes. Whether it be a single course or an entire curriculum, using evidence-based course design and instructional practices improve student learning and 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 situation, you will be able to use evidence-based strategies to help your STEM students successfully navigate your program and achieve exceptional career goals. Contact Justin to partner with him to start redesigning your STEM courses and curricula today.

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Justin Shaffer offers workshops, keynotes, and consulting on STEM teaching and course design.

Ian Kelley

CEO

Alberta Clarke

Support Staff

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 effective STEM course design and active learning, and his enthusiasm for working with faculty, future faculty, and academic leaders to partner with you to learn about how evidence-based strategies can transform your courses, teaching, programs, and student outcomes. Contact Justin to partner with him on workshops, keynotes, seminars, consulting projects, and more related to STEM course design and teaching.

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High Structure Course Design

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Alignment and Practice Card Decks

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Recombinant Teaching Podcast

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Let’s Work Together


Send Justin an email, book a time to meet, or sign up to be on his mailing list. Let’s chat about ways to partner to improve STEM course design and student outcomes in your program. Whether you are starting from scratch 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

Jan  2026

Colorado State University Professional Development Institute

Workshop: Modern and engaging practices for using iClickers in the classroom

Virtual

Jan  2026

University of North Texas

Workshop: Modern and engaging practices for using iClickers in the classroom

Virtual

Jan  2026

Delaware Technical Community College

Workshop: Strategies to promote STEM student success

Dover, DE

Jan  2026

Stark State College

Workshop:Designing effective and engaging courses to promote student success

Canton, OH

Jan  2026

Ohio Strong Start in Science Initiative

Workshop: In-class active
learning and problem
solving

Virtual

Jan  2026

Western Kentucky University

Workshop:Designing effective and engaging courses to promote student success

Virtual

Feb 2026

2026 Meauxmentum Summit

Workshop: Designing effective and engaging courses to promote student success

Lafayette, LA

Feb 2026

Teaching for Learning Conference

Keynote:Designing effective and engaging courses to promote student success

Denver, CO

Feb  2026

Ohio Strong Start in Science Initiative

Workshop: Modern and
engaging clicker
questions

Virtual

Feb  2026

Van Andel Institute 

Guest Lecture: Using structure and scaffolds in graduate course design

Virtual

Feb  2026

Ohio Strong Start in Science Initiative

Workshop: Pre-class
reading/watching and
assignments

Virtual

Mar  2026

Ohio Strong Start in Science Initiative

Workshop: Alternative
and authentic assessment

Virtual

Apr  2026

Ohio Strong Start in Science Initiative

Workshop: Inquiry-based
labs and CUREs

Virtual

Apr  2026

Grand Canyon University (in partnership with Macmillan Learning)

Workshop: Structures and scaffolds for course design

Virtual

May  2026

Ohio Strong Start in Science Initiative

Workshop: Using student
and self-feedback to
improve teaching

Virtual

Engaging faculty and improving STEM course design worldwide

Previous partners for workshops, keynotes, and seminars

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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.

justin@recombinanteducation.com