JCC Chemistry Instructor Participates in Evidence-Based Teaching Training at SUNY Adirondack Conference

A chemistry faculty member from Jefferson Community College (Jefferson) recently attended a multi-day professional development program focused on implementing evidence-based teaching and learning practices at the community college level. Hosted by SUNY Adirondack as part of the Adirondack Conference, the training brought together faculty from across the country to explore research-supported strategies for improving student success in chemistry.

Participants engaged with a range of instructional approaches that have been shown to enhance learning, engagement, and retention, especially in STEM courses. Sessions were tailored to the unique needs of community colleges, with the goal of increasing student persistence in chemistry — a critical component of many STEM pathways.

Faculty left the conference equipped with practical tools to support active learning, boost student engagement, and improve retention in their courses.

Dr. Rabab Aoun, chemistry instructor at Jefferson, said, “The Adirondack Conference gave me valuable, research-based strategies on active and engaging learning to make the chemistry labs more relevant and the lectures more interactive. It was energizing to connect with colleagues from across the country and focus on professional development support for adopting high impact teaching practices and collaboratively planning to help our students succeed in challenging STEM courses.”

The Adirondack Conference and its professional development program were made possible by support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under award numbers 2413083, 2413084, and 2413085. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of NSF.