Our Research and Projects

The Learning Centers participate in multiple grants and research opportunities.

• Preparation in STEM Leadership Program: The Preparation in STEM Leadership (PSL) Program provides an opportunity for academic peer leaders (tutors, study group leaders, etc.) to participate in advanced training. Through this training, peer leaders improve their communication, leadership, and group management skills. They also have the opportunity to earn scholarships and partner with faculty conducting educational research.

• Conducting a research study examining use of LAs in Math 300. Working alongside Dr. Juan Pablo Majia-Ramos (Graduate School of Education), Dr. Lisa Carbone (Mathematics Department). Baseline data is being taken this semester.

• Assisting the Computer Science Department in collecting and analyzing data on the Video Wall Tutoring Project

The list below is a bibliography of selected publications and presentations by Learning Center staff.

Alvarez, A. R., Español, M., Faridani, A., Flores, C. V., Marr, A., McNulty, J., Newman, E., Nugent, R., Seneres, A., Shott, M., Vélez, W. Y., & Walker, E. (2018). The PCMI workshop for mentors: A weeklong workshop on diversity?. Notices of the American Mathematical Society, 65(5), 586.

Blackwell, S. (2017, September). Designing learner-centered spaces: The intersection of pedagogy, technology, and physical space. Presented at the National College Learning Center Association National Conference, San Antonio, TX.

Blackwell, S., Carbone, L., Katzen, S., Mejía Ramos, J.P., Ptak, C., Sandberg, A., & Seneres, A. (2020, October). Impact of active learning on course performance and self-reported learning gains in a higher-level mathematics course. 4th Northeastern RUME Conference, Virtual. 

Blackwell, S., & Emenike, M. (2015, October). An introduction to the preparation in STEM leadership program, an NSF funded initiative to enhance the career readiness of STEM students. Presented at the National College Learning Center Association Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI.

Blackwell, S., Haberstroh, A., & Sandberg, A. (2020). Welcoming spaces for learning. In E. M. H. Coghill & J. G. Coghill, Supporting neurodiverse college student success: A guide for librarians, student support services, and academic learning environments. 

Blackwell, S., & Huggins-Smith, A. (2017, April). Rutgers’ peer leader training program. Workshop presented at the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Regional Learning Assistant Workshop, New Brunswick, NJ.

Blackwell, S., Katzen, S., Battacharya, N., Onulak, N., & Emenike, M. (2017, September). Investigating changes in academic peer leaders’ skills, practices, attitudes, and content knowledge. Presented at the National College Learning Center Association National Conference, San Antonio, TX.

Blackwell, S., Katzen, S., Patel, N., & Emenike, M. (2018, March). Using writing samples to understand peer leaders’ ideas about teaching. Presented at the annual meeting of the PA/NJ College Reading & Learning Association Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.

Blackwell, S., Katzen, S., Patel, N., Sun, Y., & Emenike, M. (2016, March). Peer leadership positions’ effects on leadership and communication practices: Preliminary results. Presented at the annual meeting of the PA/NJ College Reading & Learning Association Conference, Newtown, PA.

Blackwell, S., Katzen, S., Patel, N., Sun, Y., & Emenike, M. (2017). Developing the preparation in STEM leadership program for undergraduate academic peer leaders. The Learning Assistant Review, 22(1), 50-84.

Ciafullo, A., & Katzen, S. (2018, March). Transforming the co-teaching model for peer instructor education. Presented at the annual meeting of the PA/NJ College Reading & Learning Association Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.

Emenike, M.,  Battacharya, N., Katzen, S., Patel, N., & Blackwell, S. (2017, August). Investigating content and pedagogical knowledge development of academic peer leaders in chemistry courses. Presented at the 254th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.

Emenike, M., & Blackwell, S. Preparing STEM leaders at Rutgers University: In their own words. Digital poster presented at the NSF Project Highlights. Envisioning the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education: Research and Practice Conference. Washington, D.C., 2016

Emenike, M., Blackwell, S., & Katzen, S. (2015, October). Investigating how the components of[AS1]  peer leadership programs influence the development of academic peer leaders' content and pedagogical knowledge and leadership and communication skills. Poster presented at the 7th meeting of the International Learning Assistant Workshop, Boulder, CO.

Emenike, M., Katzen, S., Patel, N., & Blackwell, S. (2016, August). Investigating chemistry and STEM academic peer leaders' professional development related to content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and communication and leadership skills. Paper and poster presented at the 252nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Emenike, M., Katzen, S., Patel, N., & Blackwell, S. (2016, October).  Investigating chemistry and STEM academic peer leaders' professional development related to content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and communication and leadership skills. Poster presented at the 8^th meeting of the International LA Workshop, Boulder, CO. 

Kaptan, S., Katzen, S., & Sandberg, A. (2019, March). Managing a Large-Scale Peer Leader Program: Challenges, Opportunities, and Effective Practices. PowerPoint presented at Annual PA/NJ CRLA Spring 2019 Conference, Bethlehem, PA. 

Katzen, S., & Sandberg, A. (2019, October). Managing a Large-Scale Peer Leader Program: Challenges, Opportunities, and Effective Practices. PowerPoint presented at Annual CRLA 2019 Conference, New Orleans, LA. 

Katzen, S., & Seneres, A. (2018, May). Increasing student engagement through the co-teaching model. Presented at the Rutgers Active Learning Symposium, New Brunswick, NJ.

Katzen, S., Sun, Y., Patel, N., Emenike, M., & Blackwell, S. (2016, March). Measuring peer leaders’ beliefs about teaching and learning. Presented at the annual meeting of the PA/NJ College Reading & Learning Association Conference, Newtown, PA.

Leung, L. (2016, March). Academic coaching: Developing & assessing academic coaching modules. Presented at the annual meeting of the PA/NJ College Reading & Learning Association Conference, Newton, PA.

Leung, L. (2016, September). Evaluating academic coaching: Assess your workshops. Presented at the National College Learning Center Association Conference, Tampa, FL.

Leung, L. (2017, September). Evaluating academic coaching: Assess your workshops. Presented at the National College Learning Center Association Conference, San Antonio, TX.

Leung, L. (2018, March). Evaluating academic coaching: Assess your workshops. Presented at the annual meeting of the PA/NJ College Reading & Learning Association Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.

Seneres, A. (2005, April). The interdisciplinary graduate experience for women. Panel discussion at Women in Engineering ProActive Network, Las Vegas, NV.

Seneres, A. (2010, May). Inside my math classroom. Presented at Butuan Global Foundation’s Share Your Knowledge Program, Butuan, Philippines.

Seneres, A. (2014, November). The math of student loans. Presented at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference, Richmond, VA.

Seneres, A. (2017). Teacher-learner interactions in a hybrid setting compared to a traditional mathematics course (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Columbia University, New York.

Seneres, A. (2017, October). New ways to use LAs. Panel discussion at the International Learning Assistant Conference, Boulder, CO.

Seneres, A. (2018, January). What effect does the hybrid class format have on classroom interactions?. Presented at NJEdge Conference, Whippany, NJ.

Seneres, A. (2018, April). What effect does the hybrid class format have on classroom interactions?. Presented at National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Research Conference, Washington, D.C.

Seneres, A. (2018, May). How learning assistants can help foster active learning. Presented at the Rutgers Active Learning Symposium, New Brunswick, NJ.

Seneres, A., Ciafullo, A., Katzen, S., & Blackwell, S. (2017, November). Co-teaching models for the pedagogy course. Poster presented at the International Learning Assistant Conference, Boulder, CO.

Seneres, A., Emenike, M., Katzen, S., & Blackwell, S. (2016, October). The centralized and expanding LA program at Rutgers University. Poster presented at the International Learning Assistant Conference, Boulder, CO.

Seneres, A., & Kerrigan, J.A. (2014). Using dynamic software to address common calculus stumbling blocks. Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College, 5(2), 29-37.

Seneres, A., & Kerrigan, J. A. (2015, March). Using dynamic software to prepare AP students for college calculus. Presented at Good Ideas in Teaching Precalculus Conference, Piscataway, NJ.

Seneres, A. & Smith, J. P. (2016, July). What effect does the hybrid class format have on classroom interactions? Poster presented at the International Congress on Mathematical Education, Hamburg, Germany.