Innovative Learning Environments in STEM Higher Education : Opportunities, Challenges, and Looking Forward

As explored in this open access book, higher education in STEM fields is influenced by many factors, including education research, government and school policies, financial considerations, technology limitations, and acceptance of innovations by faculty and students. In 2018, Drs. Ryoo and Winkelmann explored the opportunities, challenges, and future research initiatives of innovative learning environments (ILEs) in higher education STEM disciplines in their pioneering project: eXploring the Future of Innovative Learning Environments (X-FILEs). Workshop participants evaluated four main ILE categories: personalized and adaptive learning, multimodal learning formats, cross/extended reality (XR), and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This open access book gathers the perspectives expressed during the X-FILEs workshop and its follow-up activities. It is designed to help inform education policy makers, researchers, developers, and practitioners about the adoption and implementation of ILEs in higher education.

Jungwoo Ryoo is a professor of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and Head of the Division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology (BEIST) at the Pennsylvania State University-Altoona. His research interests include the use of virtual worlds in cybersecurity education through innovative learning environments, information security and assurance, software engineering, and computer networking. Dr. Ryoo led the National Science Foundation (NSF) Principal Investigator (PI) forum on Virtual Environments and Game-Based Learning (GBL) in the Classroom and is co-PI of the X-FILES project (with Kurt Winkelmann) funded by NSF. He is the author of numerous academic articles and conducts extensive research in software security, cybersecurity, security management and auditing, software architectures, object-oriented software development, and requirements engineering.

Kurt Winkelmann is a professor of Chemistry and Head of the Chemistry Department at Valdosta State University. His current research interests include chemical and nanotechnology education, with an emphasis on laboratory education in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Dr. Winkelmann is co-editor of Global Perspectives of Nanoscience and Engineering Education (with Bharat Bhushan, Springer 2016). He has authored numerous book chapters and journal articles describing novel chemistry and nanotechnology laboratory experiments and their impact on students’ learning and attitudes. His previous research projects have contributed to the development of materials for radiation shielding during manned space flight, methods for remediation of toxic chemicals, and more environmentally friendly aviation fuel.