Lessons Learned from the NSF IGERT Program: Cultivating Student Motivation in the Interdisciplinary and International Contexts

Abstract

is a doctoral candidate in the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University. Her research interests include the applications of environmental-friendly lead-free Sn coatings in electronics, the recycling of electronic wastes as part of the circular economy, and the design of interdisciplinary and intercultural curricula on global sustainability .

Education and Evaluation for the NRT: Accounting for Numerous Requirements, Multiple Disciplines, and Small Cohorts

“…Instead, they found them onerous, challenging, and a "waste of time". • A study of an IGERT program surveyed nine students in a final cohort to identify when and why they felt or failed to feel motivated during the program and what curriculum modules were most valuable for their learning experiences (Wang et al, 2021). The authors conducted a Likert scale and open-ended question survey to collect students' opinions and feedback about the program in the context of student motivation through autonomy, competence, relatedness and values.…”