2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Fusion of COPUS and DEI Tools for Equitable STEM Classroom Engagement

This research paper investigates how classroom observation tools can be effectively combined to promote engagement in STEM education. Specifically, it explores the integration of the Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM (COPUS) and a culturally responsive Classroom Observation Instrument (COI) to evaluate and improve teaching practices. COPUS, developed by Smith et al. [21], captures instructional dynamics and student-faculty interactions, while the Classroom Observation Instrument COI, created by Dr. Jennifer G. Cromley and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Developing Equity-Minded Engineering Practitioners (DEEP) research team [6], focuses on observing and assessing culturally responsive -related instructional practices. At Morgan State University (MSU), a Historically Black University (HBCU), coders formally trained by the UIUC DEEP team used both tools to analyze classroom recordings of faculty who had undergone professional development in engaging pedagogy. Findings indicate measurable improvements and balanced engagement in the classroom. This fusion of COPUS and COI tools offers a replicable framework for enhancing inclusive STEM instruction and cultivating more equitable learning environments.
This work will be presented as a traditional lecture at the conference.

Authors
  1. Kingsley Matthew Morgan State University [biography]
  2. Dr. Ellen Wang Althaus Orcid 16x16http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5112-7015 University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign [biography]
  3. Dr. Ashleigh Wright University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign [biography]
  4. Dr. Lynford Goddard University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025