San Diego, California, United States
With an interdisciplinary background in applied mathematics, statistics, computer science, and STEM education, I am interested in how undergraduate students learn and engage with mathematics. My research focuses on creating student-centered learning environments that empower learners to see mathematics as something they can explore, reason about, and connect to their lived experiences. I aim to improve undergraduate mathematics education through inquiry-based learning, design-based research, and data-informed practices. I share updates on projects, publications, and teaching philosophy through my website: https://nancy-ruoning-qiu.github.io/ Keywords: Undergraduate Mathematics Education | Inquiry-Based Learning | Design-Based Research | Collaborative Learning
Making Upper Division Mathematics Courses More Relevant for Future High School Teachers: The Case of Inquiry-Oriented Dynamical Systems and Modeling (IODSM) [NSF #2337047] - Conducted thematic analysis on interview data to investigate prospective secondary teachers' beliefs and embracement of a critical stance on mathematical learning and teaching after taking the IODSM course [Contributed report accepted to RUME 2025, AERA 2026] - Helped revising the curriculum to connect secondary mathematics with IODSM content in relation to the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice [Contributed report accepted to RUME 2026] - PIs: Dr. Chris Rasmussen, Dr. Nick Fortune, & Dr. Debra Carney
The Chemistry Instrument Review and Assessment Library (CHIRAL) [NSF #1914996] - Identified instruments in chemistry education literatures and coded them systematically to extract statistical evidence for researchers to reuse, promoting sustainability in the field [Talk presented at BCCE 2024] - PI: Dr. Regis Komperda
Protolab - Emergent Scaffolding for Knowledge Sharing in Communities - Proposed a crowdsourcing workflow to investigate how scaffolding can emerge iteratively to support completing complex and creative tasks without guidance from the domain experts - Experimented with the emergent scaffolding workflow, led iterative refinement across three batches of crowdwork, and analyzed workers' reflections and experimental results to evaluate impacts on work quality and self-efficacy [Paper accepted to CI' 25]
CSE 599 - Teaching Methods in Computer Science (Fall 24, Fall 25) - Led 2 sections of practicums to facilitate discussion with first-time TAs on sharing teaching experiences, practicing key skills, and reflecting on their pedagogical knowledge and growth in teaching
Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program in discipline-based education research [Virtual Education Research in STEM Academy (VERSA)] - In charge of a pod of four undergraduate researchers by leading community-building activities, monitored group co-working time on Zoom, conducted daily check-ins with undergraduate researchers to facilitate reflections on research progress, and provided psychosocial support to form a community of practice
Department of Mathematics - MATH101: Facilitated weekly active learning lectures, supervised written assignments' marking with UTAs, and held office hours
Faculty of Science, Science One - Facilitated TA training workshops and community of practices
Faculty of Science, First-Year Focus: SCIE100 (Fall 2022) - Revised lesson plans, prepared tutorial instructions, and led UTA meetings Department of Mathematics - Helped in MLC hours, marked exams and assignments, answered questions on Piazza, and provided feedback to students' research writing projects as a project assistant - Courses: MATH200 (Calculus III); MATH444 (Mathematical Research and Writing); MATH105 (Integral Calculus with Applications to Commerce and Social Sciences); MATH405 (Numerical Methods for Differential Equations)
Trinity College Academic Support Services - Provided advice and assistance in the selection of courses and programs for junior students - Shared academic resources and research opportunities in their subject of interest
Department of Mathematics - Provided formative peer observation of tutorials and instilled reflective practice with new teaching assistants
Department of Mathematics - Led weekly tutorials, marked exams, and held office hours & review sessions for a first-year linear algebra course (MAT223 - Linear Algebra 1)
Work-Study Program - Facilitated small-group discussions online with students to understand their experience in Computer Science courses offered in a remote format with the goal of informing community-building efforts - Constructed surveys, collected feedback, and performed data analysis to produce teaching tips document for other teaching fellows