Recombinant Teaching: STEM Education Office Hours with Dr. Justin Shaffer

STEM Course Design Series: Feedback, Reflection, and Iteration 12.08.2026 21min

In this final episode of the STEM Course Design Series, Justin discusses the importance of getting feedback on your teaching, reflecting on said feedback, and iterating to improve you and your students’ experiences and success. Just dives into student midcourse and end-of-course feedback, peer observation protocols, and keeping a teaching journal, and more.Here is an article Justin wrote discussing why we need to up our games as instructors as students are paying too much for less-than-stellar experiences.Here is a link to the peer observation system Justin helped develop at the Colorado School of Mines.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about feedback, reflection, and iteration.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Labs and Online Courses 05.08.2026 22min

We’ve covered how to handle traditional face-to-face classes, but how do you use structure in labs and online situations? In this episode of the STEM Course Design Series, Justin discusses how to use high structure in labs, online synchronous, and online asynchronous courses and just how important it is. Listen in for his thoughts on lab prep, online proctoring, breakout rooms, and more!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Here is an article discussing Justin’s QBE field session course (a type of CURE) at the Colorado School of Mines.Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about labs and online courses.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: After-Class Homework and Practice 29.07.2026 18min

You've had students prepare before class, had a great lesson during class, but now what to do after class? In this episode of the STEM Course Design Series, Justin breaks down after-class homework, practice quizzes and exams, draft project assignments, and more.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about after-class homework and other assignments.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: In-Class Teaching and Engagement 22.07.2026 21min

How do you plan timing for a lesson, balance active learning with lecture, and get students engaged and excited to be in class? Listen to this episode of the STEM Course Design Series to get answers to these questions and more!Check out the lesson plan template here on Justin’s website.Here is a link to the DART decibel-analysis tool. And a link to the active learning meta-analysis paper by Scott Freeman.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about active learning and in-class engagement.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Pre-Class Reading and Assignments 15.07.2026 19min

What do you do when students don’t want to read before class? On this episode of the STEM Course Design Series, Justin breaks down the critical importance of pre-class reading and assignments and how to develop them do that your students actually do read before class.Check out the reading guide template and samples here. And check out Justin’s paper on the efficacy of reading guides.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about pre-class reading, watching, and assignments.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Syllabus and Course Schedule 08.07.2026 20min

On today's episode in the STEM Course Design Series, Justin tackles the importance of the syllabus and the course schedule by looking at how to put them together, what to add to them, and how to handle them when things go awry (snow day!).Here is a link to the student-centered syllabus rubric tool developed by Michael Palmer and a link to the study on STEM syllabi from Brian Sato.Check out the syllabus template and course schedule excel sheet here.Justin's AI syllabus poilicy: You are permitted to use AI whenever you want to help you with your learning and I will model how to use AI effectively in this manner in class. However, mindset and karma are important to consider here. Please try to have a positive and productive mindset when using AI and do not fall into the trap of having it do some (or even all) of your work for you (including writing) as this takes away from your humanity and the pride that you should have in your own learning. Karma is also real – if you do fall into this trap, you will find yourself in trouble when it comes time to take the quizzes and exams as you will not have AI available to help you then. Treat AI as another tool in your toolbox and use it carefully, responsibly, and wisely!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about syllabus design and course schedules.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Choosing Course Materials 01.07.2026 18min

How do you pick course materials that are worth it for you and your students? In this episode of the STEM Course Design Series, Justin gives his advice and thoughts on this question through discussing the pros and cons of paid vs OER materials, how to use rubrics to choose a textbook and courseware, and what to think about with adopting AI tools for your courses.Check out the textbook and courseware adoption rubrics here.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about choosing course materials.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Summative Assessment 24.06.2026 21min

In this episode of the STEM Course Design Series, Justin goes over the big picture of summative assessment design and how to make sure they are aligned to your learning objectives. Justin also discusses a few types of assessments including traditional quizzes and exams, group quizzes, and how to make your assessments authentic and gives examples of how he uses them in his STEM courses.Here is a resource for more info on assessment from the UVA Teaching Hub.Here is a resource on authentic assessment from the University of Indiana.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about summative assessments of all types.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Backward Design and Learning Objectives 17.06.2026 19min

As we continue on in the STEM Course Design Series, in this episode Justin gives an overview of the critical importance of starting your course design experience with learning objectives and backward design. Justin also discusses how to write SMART learning objectives, how to scale them up and down Bloom's taxonomy, the importance of both content- and skills-based LOs, and how to unpack LOs.Here is a resource on writing SMART LOs.Here is resource for different verbs to use for writing LOs based on Bloom's Taxonomy.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course Design to learn more about backward design and LOs.Check out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Overview 10.06.2026 17min

In this episode Justin walks you through the basics of high structure course design, what it is, where it came from, and how to start thinking about designing or re-designing your own courses. This episode will serve as a foundation for future episodes in the series.Check out Justin's book on High Structure Course DesignCheck out Justin's card decks to help with course design and student learningHere is a link to some free resources on high structure at the UVA Teaching HubHere is the "original" structure paper by Scott Freeman and Mary Pat WenderothAnd another great one by Scott and Mary PatWant to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM Course Design Series: Intro 05.06.2026 6min

This is an introduction to the forthcoming summer STEM course design podcast series! Listen in over the next two months to learn all about STEM course design and how to give your courses a strong foundation so that your students can have an outstanding experience.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

How do I get my students to care about the topics in my class? 20.05.2026 15min

Taylor Darwin joins the show to talk with Justin about how to engage your students in the classroom – not necessarily about what to do in a typical 50 minute class, but rather how to engage them in the subject matter writ large (especially if it is a mandatory class that they have little interest in).Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Learn more about expectancy value theory here.Check out this paper on how utility value can improve student outcomes in introductory biology.Dr. Taylor Darwin is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at Tarleton State University and an experienced mathematics educator whose work spans secondary, two-year, and four-year institutional contexts. Her professional background integrates teaching, research, and large-scale institutional change aimed at improving student access and success in mathematics.Dr. Darwin’s research centers on improving mathematics learning experiences for rural and underserved populations, designing and evaluating corequisite models, and supporting systemic reform in developmental education. She also explores emerging areas in mathematics education, including the use of artificial intelligence to support personalized learning and faculty professional development, as well as collaborative university–school partnerships that elevate teacher leadership and context-responsive instructional design. Her research agenda is informed in part by her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California, where she deepened her expertise in learning sciences and technology-enhanced education. Across her previous roles and in her teaching experience, Dr. Darwin has focused on designing active learning environments and supporting faculty in shifting from traditional lecture-based instruction toward more student-centered, interactive approaches. Her work has contributed to multiple grant-funded initiatives focused on STEM access, equity, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

What is the best way to form student groups? 13.05.2026 14min

Justin is joined by SPECIAL GUEST HOST Kelsey Metzger Metzbertsel to answer an age-old question about the best way to form student groups! Justin was sure glad to have Kelsey as a group partner to work through this toughie!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Kelsey Metzger – Dr. KJAM to her students – is a professor in the Center for Learning Innovation and the director of faculty development at the University of Minnesota Rochester where she was a founding faculty member. Across her efforts in research, teaching, and service, Kelsey’s core value is using evidence to advance knowledge and practice in support of equitable and inclusive student learning, development, and wellbeing.Learn more about the CATME grouping tool here.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

My students are resistant to active learning! 06.05.2026 13min

Justin is joined by Lauren Stoczynski to discuss the age-old question of how to handle student resistance when it comes to active learning and structured course design. While a tough nut to crack, I guarantee you won't face any resistance with enjoying this episode! :)Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Lauren Stoczynski is an assistant professor of biological and environmental sciences at Le Moyne College. Learn more about Lauren on her LinkedIn page.Check out Episode 4 for an overview of high structure course design.I have lots of papers on the literature page of my website about student resistance and other barriers to using active learning and evidence-based course design.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

How can we support students in service and community learning? 29.04.2026 15min

Brian Shmaefsky joins to show to share how he engages his students through community work and asks Justin how to do this in a way to match students interests and motivations. Listen in for some great examples of community-based learning that Brian is doing!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Brian Shmaefsky is an environmental scientist who’s spent more over 30 years making complex STEM topics accessible, relevant, and engaging for diverse student communities. His work bridges classroom teaching, public outreach, and environmental justice, with a focus on helping learners see how science directly connects to their lives and communities. Learn more about Brian on his LinkedIn page.Learn about the great community-based work that Lisa Corwin is doing at the University of Colorado.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

How can courses be designed to support neurodivergent learners? 22.04.2026 13min

Justin is joined by Christin Monroe to discuss how courses can be designed best to support neurodivergent learners. This is not Justin's area of expertise, so it was a good challenge to think through this idea together with Christin!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Dr. Christin Monroe holds a PhD in Chemistry from Princeton University and is an Educational Research Associate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning. Her work is grounded in education research and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), with a focus on partnering with faculty to use evidence-based, data-informed approaches to examine and improve teaching and learning. Learn more about Christin on her LinkedIn page.Check out this infographic on neurodiversity from Landmark College.A great article from Northern Illinois University about teaching for neurodiverse learners.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

How can structure help everyone thrive in college STEM courses? 15.04.2026 15min

Jessamyn Neuhaus joins the show to ask Justin how adding structure to college STEM courses can help everyone, students and faculty alike, do better and feel like they belong. Lots of great tips and advice in this one!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Jessamyn Neuhaus is Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and Professor of Education at Syracuse University. Jessamyn holds an PhD in history and has over twenty years of college classroom teaching experience. She is the author, most recently of Snafu Edu: Teaching and Learning When Things Go Wrong in the College Classroom (University of Oklahoma Press); editor of Picture a Professor: Interrupting Biases about Faculty and Increasing Student Learning; and author of Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to Be Effective Teachers (West Virginia University Press).Check out all that Jessamyn is up to at her website and on her LinkedIn.Check out Episode 4 of this podcast for Justin's overview of high structure course design.Read Mike Wilton's paper showing that belonging improves when adding structure to intro bio.Check out Inclusive Teaching by Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathay.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

How do you help faculty who can't/won't use active learning? 08.04.2026 12min

Justin is joined by Kate Ireton Walker to answer Kate's question of how to approach faculty who are reluctant to using active learning in their courses.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Kate Ireton Walker is a Biology Instructor at the University of Arkansas. Her teaching philosophy centers on innovative, student-centered learning strategies that advance science education initiatives aligned with AAAS Vision and Change. She mentors faculty across disciplines to integrate best practices in cross-curricular teaching. Her research investigates science communication. Currently this includes examining how students from diverse academic backgrounds articulate and internalize complex scientific concepts. You can find her on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/kate-ireton-walker Check out Episode 2 of this podcast for Justin's discussion with Carter Moulton on how to use active learning in large classes.Here is a link to the paper Justin referenced on barriers to using EBIPs for community college biology faculty.Here is another paper on the "tyranny of content coverage" and how to overcome it to use EBIPs in your courses.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

STEM or STEAM? Does the "A" belong? 01.04.2026 12min

Justin is joined by Jane Harrington to figure out how the "A" (ART!) fits into STEM education.Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Jane Harrington, PhD, is a former microbiology professor and founder of MedMicroMaps, a company that provides XR gaming for STEAM experiences.https://www.linkedin.com/in/medmicromaps/https://www.medmicromaps.comLearn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com

How do I know if things in class are actually working? 25.03.2026 11min

Justin is joined by Eleanor Sayre to discuss how to tell whether something you do in class is working (or not). This is a nice short intro to SoTL and DBER!Want to be a part of the show? Submit a question!Dr. Eleanor Sayre (zaposa.com) is a physicist and learning scientist. She helps university faculty get started in education research and the scholarship of teaching and learning, including 1:1 consults as well as intensive interactive workshops. She wrote Research: A Practical Handbook for you.Check out Justin's book as the last chapter is a primer for getting started in DBER.Read the paper on the the transition of faculty into scholarly teaching that was discussed on the show.Learn how you, your department, or your institution can work with Justin to improve STEM education together.www.recombinanteducation.com