Center for Education, Innovation, and Learning in the Sciences

UCLA Physics & Astronomy Colloquium - "AI & Mathematical Skills (AIMS) to support student success: from research to implementation in STEM courses at UCLA", by Yifan Lu, Shanna Shaked, K. Supriya
2025-10-30 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 430 Portola Plz, Physics and Astronomy Building & Knudsen Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 430 Portola Plz, Physics and Astronomy Building & Knudsen Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
How can we support students in reviewing or learning the necessary math to succeed in college STEM courses, such as introductory physics? We will review some relatively simple promising interventions and our education research study supporting their effectiveness. Inequities in student access to trigonometry and calculus are often associated with racial and socioeconomic privilege, and often influence introductory physics course performance. To mitigate these disparities in student preparedness, we developed a two-pronged intervention consisting of (1) incentivized supplemental math assignments and (2) AI-generated learning support tools in the form of optional hints embedded in the physics homework assignments. For the supplemental math assignments, the extra credit was scaled to make it worth more points for students with lower exam scores, thereby creating even greater value for students who might benefit most from the assignments. AI-generated hints were integrated into the homework assignments, thereby reducing or eliminating the cost to the student, in terms of time, energy, and social barriers or fear of judgment. Our findings indicate that both these interventions are associated with increased exam scores; in particular, the scaled extra credit reduced disparities in completion of supplemental math assignments. These interventions are therefore very promising for creating more equitable undergraduate quantitative courses.Thanks to funding from UCLA’s Teaching and Learning Center, we will then discuss our vision for implementing these interventions in STEM undergraduate courses at UCLA more broadly.
Shaked + Supriya (UCLA Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences) and Lu (UCLA Physics & Astronomy Dept.)
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m. on the PAB Patio. Undergraduates Welcome!

CEILS Journal Club for STEM Education
2025-11-05 14:00 - 15:00 | 1100 Terasaki Life Sciences Building, 1100 Terasaki Life Sciences Building, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Paper we will discuss on Nov 5:
Costello, Robin A., et al. “Highlighting Counterstereotypical Scientists in Undergraduate Life Science Courses.” CBE—Life Sciences Education 24.2 (2025): es1.
About Journal Club:
Are you interested in learning about the latest STEM education research but not sure where to start? Or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of literature out there and what it means for your teaching? Come to the CEILS journal club!
We will pick key recent papers from the STEM education research literature and provide a one-page summary to facilitate discussion. Our goal is to make it easier for instructors to explore relevant STEM education research literature and reflect on its implications for their courses in community with other instructors.
All UCLA instructors including faculty, graduate students and postdocs are welcome to participate!
RSVP for Journal Club Fall 2025

2025 CEILS Teaching Table for STEM Classrooms
2025-11-13 12:30 - 13:30 | CEILS Office Hershey Hall 230
Cultivating attention amidst distraction
Laptops and cell phone use is extremely common in college classrooms now and there are growing concerns about students’ attention spans. What are some ways we might be able to help our students pay attention in the classroom? We invite you to share strategies that you have used to cultivate attention and learn from each other.
Resource: Resilient Pedagogy podcast. Episode: Distracted with James Lang
About Teaching Tables
Teaching Tables is a space for all UCLA instructors to come together each month and share their joys and frustrations of teaching. We will also guide conversation around a selected resource (e.g., article, podcast, short video) on topics related to teaching STEM courses at UCLA, such as getting to know your students in this day and age, making space for everyone in your class, and more. We will explore each session’s resources and topics by tapping into your experiences and those of the community. Whether you’re a seasoned professor or you’ve just started your teaching journey, you’ll find strategies to try in your own classroom and a community to explore them with!
Join us in creating a communal space for faculty, teaching staff, postdocs, and graduate students to discuss, learn, and consider teaching strategies that support themselves and their students in the classroom.
Drop in for one or come for them all, we hope to see you there!
RSVP for Teaching Tables Fall 2025

2025 CEILS Journal Club
2025-12-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Terasaki Rm 1100 | Zoom option available
Paper we will discuss on Dec 3:
Yuriev, Elizabeth, et al. “Integrating Generative AI in Chemistry Education: Enhancing Career-Ready Writing Skills in Pharmaceutical Science.” Journal of Chemical Education 102.5 (2025): 1991-2001.
CEILS Journal Club for STEM Education
About Journal Club: Are you interested in learning about the latest STEM education research but not sure where to start? Or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of literature out there and what it means for your teaching? Come to the CEILS journal club!
We will pick key recent papers from the STEM education research literature and provide a one-page summary to facilitate discussion. Our goal is to make it easier for instructors to explore relevant STEM education research literature and reflect on its implications for their courses in community with other instructors.
All UCLA instructors including faculty, graduate students and postdocs are welcome to participate!
RSVP for Journal Club Fall 2025

2025 CEILS Teaching Table for STEM Classrooms
2025-12-11 12:30 - 13:30 | CEILS Office Hershey Hall 230
Reflecting Together on the Fall Quarter
Come celebrate the end of the quarter with us and share your wins as well as the challenges you experienced in the Fall quarter.
About Teaching Tables
Teaching Tables is a space for all UCLA instructors to come together each month and share their joys and frustrations of teaching. We will also guide conversation around a selected resource (e.g., article, podcast, short video) on topics related to teaching STEM courses at UCLA, such as getting to know your students in this day and age, making space for everyone in your class, and more. We will explore each session’s resources and topics by tapping into your experiences and those of the community. Whether you’re a seasoned professor or you’ve just started your teaching journey, you’ll find strategies to try in your own classroom and a community to explore them with!
Join us in creating a communal space for faculty, teaching staff, postdocs, and graduate students to discuss, learn, and consider teaching strategies that support themselves and their students in the classroom.
Drop in for one or come for them all, we hope to see you there!
RSVP for Teaching Tables Fall 2025

CEILS Journal Club for STEM Education
2026-01-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Hershey Hall 168
Paper we will discuss on Jan 21:
Chrin, S. R., & Nardo, J. E. “(Dis) Ability and Accommodation: Exploring the Accessibility of General and Organic Chemistry Course Designs”. Journal of Chemical Education, 102.6 (2025), 2305-2315. (Dr. Jocelyn Nardo, the TLC Scholarly Seminar Speaker in the Winter quarter, is a co-author on this paper)
About Journal Club:
Are you interested in learning about the latest STEM education research but not sure where to start? Or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of literature out there and what it means for your teaching? Come to the CEILS journal club!
We will pick key recent papers from the STEM education research literature and provide a one-page summary to facilitate discussion. Our goal is to make it easier for instructors to explore relevant STEM education research literature and reflect on its implications for their courses in community with other instructors.
All UCLA instructors including faculty, graduate students and postdocs are welcome to participate!
RSVP for Journal Club Winter 2026

CEILS Journal Club for STEM Education
2026-02-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Hershey Hall Salon
Feb 4 – Teaching-as-Research Lightning Talks:
Through the CIRTL program, graduate students and postdocs learn how to apply their research skills to their classrooms. At the February journal club meeting, we are excited to feature five talks by our CIRTL Scholars on their completed Teaching-as-Research projects. These talks will be followed by a reception.

Caitlyn Fick, Chemistry & Biochemistry: Enhancing Student Confidence and Engagement in Chemistry Through Real World Topics and Student Choice in Writing
Nicholas Hu, Mathematics: Critical writing and reflection in undergraduate mathematics courses
Pamala N. Dayley, Psychology: Effects of Portfolio Grading on Students’ Growth Mindset and Academic Satisfaction
YongKyung Oh, DGSOM: Shifting Opinions about Generative AI: How An Interactive Session Informs Perceptions about its use in Research and Education
Ivy Kwok, Civil & Environmental Engineering “Conference Attendance: A Vehicle to Enhance Undergraduate Students’ Learning of Interdisciplinary Environmental Topics”

About Journal Club:
The CEILS Journal Club is a collaborative space for faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers to discuss the latest STEM education research and its implications for our classrooms.
Our goal is to make it easy for you to keep up with recent findings while exploring how this research can translate into your teaching. We encourage you to join and share your own perspectives as an instructor in this space. Each meeting stands alone and we welcome new participants!
All UCLA instructors including faculty, graduate students and postdocs are welcome to participate!
RSVP for Journal Club Winter 2026

CEILS Journal Club for STEM Education
2026-03-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Terasaki Life Sciences 5100
Paper we will discuss on Mar 4:
Goodwin, E. C., Shapiro, C., Freise, A. C., Toven-Lindsey, B., & Moberg Parker, J. Synthesizing Research Narratives to Reveal the Big Picture: a CREATE (S) Intervention Modified for Journal Club Improves Undergraduate Science Literacy. Journal of microbiology & biology education, 24.2 (2023): e00055-23.
About Journal Club:
Are you interested in learning about the latest STEM education research but not sure where to start? Or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of literature out there and what it means for your teaching? Come to the CEILS journal club!
We will pick key recent papers from the STEM education research literature and provide a one-page summary to facilitate discussion. Our goal is to make it easier for instructors to explore relevant STEM education research literature and reflect on its implications for their courses in community with other instructors.
All UCLA instructors including faculty, graduate students and postdocs are welcome to participate!
RSVP for Journal Club Winter 2026

Mid Day Pause
2026-03-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Hershey Hall 230
Step out of the rush and return to your day renewed. We invite you to take a quick pause in the middle of your day and join CEILS in taking time to reflect, connect and unwind. This break will provide an opportunity to engage in mental rest and gentle connection with your colleagues. Coffee, tea and snacks provided.

Preparing to Teach
2026-03-16 15:00 - 17:00 | Zoom link emailed to RSVPers
Are you teaching a course for the first time? Or are you seeking more guidance on what to do to set up your class? Do you have questions about effective ways to welcome students into your class on the first day? Are you concerned about your exams being both fair and rigorous? Are you wondering how to effectively work with your TAs, with possibly reduced TA support?
We invite instructors to join this Preparing to Teach workshop designed to help you prepare to teach and adapt your course, whether you are new to teaching or new to teaching a large enrollment course. Be prepared to discuss course and grading structure, syllabus design, managing student questions, engagement in a large class, getting ready for the first day of class, and strategies for working effectively with TAs. This workshop provides practical frameworks and institutional guidance to help you feel confident in the classroom.
RSVP here.

Journal Club
2026-04-01 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-06-03 14:00 - 15:00 | CA

Supporting your students in learning how to study for your course
2026-04-17 10:00 - 11:15 | CA

Writing effective multiple choice questions
2026-05-11 13:00 - 14:15 | CA

2nd Annual Teaching Celebration
2026-05-20 15:00 - 17:00 | CA
