As Jeanne Narum, founding director of Project Kaleidoscope, and I have been working together this past year during PKAL’s transition into partnership with AAC&U, we have been discussing our perspectives on how the landscape of STEM in higher education has changed since PKAL started 20 years ago. In 1991, I wasn’t exactly in the conversation as Jeanne was, although I was immersed in the situation as a graduate student and teaching assistant at UC Davis. As my career advanced as a professor at Cal Poly, I engaged in SOTL (scholarship of teaching and learning) projects, led workshops at our Center for Teaching and Learning and eventually started doing research in genetics education. These experiences form the foundation of my perspective on STEM education, which has been broadened by the wider view I now have as Director of PKAL. It has been fascinating and fun to talk with Jeanne about her view, which is informed by 20 years of work in STEM education at the national level. We’ve shared, laughed, debated and learned from one another (me, more than she I’m sure!). In the spirit of this conversation, I’d like to share with you what I think has changed and look forward to your perspective, too.  (more…)