About Whitaker Center

The Whitaker Institute’s Vision is One in Which All Students in K-20 STEM Educational Environments Are Actively and Collaboratively Engaged in Inquiry, Interdisciplinary Learning, and Research Experiences.

Guiding Principles

• We all learn best by doing. The Whitaker Institute provides resources and support for faculty and teachers to incorporate active, inquiry-based, and experiential education practices into their classrooms.
• We focus on connections. The Whitaker Institute connects FGCU students with opportunities, FGCU faculty and teachers with resources and evidence-based practices, and FGCU STEM programs to the Southwest Florida community.
• We believe that bringing together different perspectives is essential for driving innovation. The Whitaker Institute engages with the community to support STEM education and enrichment activities. We collaborate with educators to strengthen their teaching effectiveness.
• We understand the having a strong participation in STEM fields is important. The Whitaker Institute works to expand participation in STEM by supporting students through scholarships and connecting them with role models and mentors

2023-2028 Goals

1. Support and provide expertise in evidence-based teaching that engages individuals in meaningful science. technology, engineering, and mathematics educational experiences.
2. Enhance and foster innovation, interdisciplinary activities, and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
3. Promote public interest and support of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education by contributing to STEM outreach activities in the community.

Opportunities to get involved

If you share a passion for teaching, learning, and/or its scholarship: email, call, or stop by the Whitaker Institute for a visit. If you have an idea you want to explore related to STEM Education, we want to help you realize it.

Here are some areas where we might partner:

• Measuring student learning and/or teaching effectiveness
• Publishing research articles on STEM teaching and learning topics
• Coordinating your STEM education grants
• Evaluating your STEM education grants
• Consulting and observing your course design
• Coordinating K-12 or community outreach efforts
• Providing professional development in learning science K-20
• Planning other STEM related events