SMATE’s Thanh Le Awarded NSF Grant to Advance Teamwork in Physics Education

In a time when NSF funding has become increasingly competitive, Thanh Le (Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Program, WWU), along with colleagues Andrew Boudreaux (WWU Physics), Carolina Alvarado (CSU Chico), and Jayson Nissen (Montana State University), has been awarded a new NSF grant to strengthen collaboration in undergraduate physics education.

The project, Collaborative Research: Fostering Teamwork in the Context of Learning Physics through Socio-Metacognition and Engaged Student Learning, addresses one of the most critical skills students need for success beyond the classroom: effective teamwork. While group work is common in physics courses, it often falters without explicit guidance. This project will help students develop communication, reflection, and collaboration skills that not only improve their learning in physics but also prepare them for today’s workforce.

The research team will design and implement a classroom intervention based on socio-metacognition — a framework that supports students in monitoring, reflecting on, and improving group interactions. Activities will include case studies, team charters, guided reflection, and action planning, with implementation spanning multiple physics courses at both WWU and CSU Chico.

Beyond course-level impact, the project also seeks to broaden adoption by engaging faculty through workshops and shared instructional materials. In doing so, the work aims to influence how teamwork is taught and supported across STEM disciplines.

Amid reduced funding, this award highlights NSF’s commitment to projects of the highest quality with the potential to " advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge.". SMATE is proud to support work that makes physics learning more inclusive, effective, and enduring.