Jennifer Fiegel, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, and Shaun Vecera, director of the UI Honors Program, have received a three-year, $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to integrate cognitive science-based strategies from the Learning at Iowa initiative into second-year engineering courses. 

Launched in 2021 with support from the university’s P3 Strategic Initiatives Fund, Learning at Iowa introduces students to the Three Ms for Effective Learning—Mindset, Metacognition, and Memory. All university students learn about the Three Ms prior to starting at the university through the Success at Iowa onboarding course. This grant from the NSF’s Division of Undergraduate Education will allow Fiegel and Vecera to explore the impact of students continuing to practice these learning strategies during their second year, further embedding them into their academic habits. 

“This funding allows us to bring proven cognitive science techniques directly into our core engineering courses,” Fiegel explains. “Not only will these techniques enhance our students’ academic success, but they will also equip them with essential skills for professional growth.”

As part of the initiative, Fiegel and Vecera will collaborate with faculty to redesign second year engineering courses, incorporating strategies that encourage deliberate practice and self-regulated learning. Faculty will receive professional development and support through workshops, while teaching assistants (TAs) will be trained to model effective learning behaviors during student interactions.

“By equipping faculty, staff, and TAs with evidence-based tools to enhance student learning, we are fostering a campus-wide culture that prioritizes student success,” Vecera says. 

To evaluate the initiative's success, Fiegel and Vecera will track student performance, gather participant feedback, and assess the development of students’ metacognitive and self-regulated learning abilities.