Knox College is one of just 20 schools in the country, and the only one in Illinois, selected to take part in a national initiative to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, collectively known by their initials as "STEM" fields.

The multi-million-dollar initiative "TIDES-Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM" was announced June 19 by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL).

Over the next three years, Knox College faculty will explore whether new approaches to teaching and the introduction of new classroom technology can make technology-focused courses more appealing for a wider range of students.

The TIDES initiative is designed to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM courses. The initiative is particularly focused on developing culturally inclusive ways of teaching technologically-oriented courses and on multidisciplinary courses that combine technology-based methods with non-technical fields of study.

Recognized in the honorable mention category of grant recipients, Knox will receive $34,278 over three years, for its faculty to attend AAC&U conferences and exchange ideas with faculty at other schools in the initiative. In addition to Knox, other awardee and honorable mention schools include Bryn Mawr College, Smith College, Howard University, Connecticut College and Pitzer College. Nationwide, AAC&U awarded the 20 schools a total of $4.9 million in funds it received in a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Knox faculty have developed several proposals to address the AAC&U goals:

• A new interdisciplinary Game Theory course, proposed by Jaime Spacco, Associate Professor of Computer Science, and Andrew Civettini, Associate Professor of Political Science

"Because of the broad applications of game theory to technical and non-technical topics, we expect this course will appeal to both students in the social sciences, as well as those who are majoring in STEM fields, such as computer science and mathematics," Spacco said.

Spacco and Civettini plan to develop the course for the 2015-2016 academic year. Two years ago, they worked together to infuse technology-related topics into Election 2012, a political science course that brought a multi-disciplinary approach to study of the 2012 national election.

• Enhancement of existing introductory computer science courses with hands-on, interactive activities. The technique, known as the "flipped classroom," reverses the traditional educational process by flipping the priorities -- lectures that previously would have been given in class are now provided on-line, freeing up class time for problem-solving, an activity that used to be considered "homework."

In class, faculty pose questions that students answer using hand-held "clicker" devices. A computer compiles the students' answers, and immediately shows both students and faculty the areas that need additional explanation or discussion.

"The research so far suggests that students learn and retain more when they are active rather than passive in the classroom," Spacco said. "We want to find out whether 'flipped classroom' approaches can also help retain students who have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM, such as women and students from minority groups."

AAC&U said the TIDES initiative schools were chosen for their "demonstrated commitment to... increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities in the undergraduate computer/information science disciplines; [and] innovation in linking computer/information sciences with other STEM and non-STEM courses."

In addition to TIDES, Knox this past year also launched COAST, an innovative plan to support students interested in technology careers. The National Science Foundation awarded Knox a $613,846 grant for "Creating Opportunities and Access in Science and Technology," to offer academic and financial support to students interested in graduate study and careers in biology, chemistry, and biochemistry.