The New York Academy of Sciences
eBriefing 
Understanding the Benefits of Challenge-based Learning
Reported by
Posted March 02, 2021
Presented By
The Academy’s Global STEM Alliance (GSA) has developed and refined an approach to online challenge-based learning, in which students work collaboratively to design solutions to real-world problems with support from STEM professionals who serve as mentors. Challenge-based learning offers many educational benefits, including increased student engagement, skills development, and content mastery. In this event, GSA students and mentors will share their experiences of challenge-based learning, and educators will consider implications for classroom practice.
In this eBriefing, you’ll learn:
- The benefits of challenge-based learning
- How challenge-based learning can address issues of equity in STEM
- Some best practices in challenge-based learning
- How educators might use challenge-based learning in their classrooms
Moderator
Chris Link, PhD
New York Academy of Sciences
Speakers
Reagan Razon
Student
Izabela Zmirska
Student
Zoe Piccirillo
Student
Albert Padilla
Jersey City School District
Subhasish Chatterjee, PhD
Barnard College
Kimberly Merani, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Related Content
The Benefits of Challenge-based Learning
Speakers
Reagan Razon
Student
Izabela Zmirska
Student
Zoe Piccirillo
Student
Albert Padilla
Jersey City School District
Subhasish Chatterjee, PhD
Barnard College
Kimberly Merani, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Panelists
Reagan Razon
Student
Raegan is a senior in Raleigh, NC. She’s considering pursuing a computer science degree at a number of universities next year. She and her team won the Academy’s Combating COVID-19 challenge that concluded in May 2020.
Izabela Zmirska
Student
Izabela is a Senior in high school in St. Augustine, FL. She is considering a number of universities where she can study to become a materials engineer. Izabela’s team won the Junior Academy's Sustainable Chain of Transportation competition that concluded in May 2020.
Zoe Piccirillo
Student
Zoe is a senior in New York City. She is considering several universities for next year and is interested in studying data science. She and her team won the Junior Academy’s Intelligent Homes and Health competition that concluded in December 2019.
Albert Padilla
Jersey City School District
Albert is the K-8 Science Supervisor for Jersey City School District in Jersey City, NJ. He was a middle school science teacher for 15 years. He now supports classroom instruction and oversees the district's K-8 science curriculum. He also oversees the Jersey City School District’s Sustainability STEAM Challenge, a challenge-based program for middle school students.
Subhasish Chatterjee, PhD
Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City
Subhasish is a Term Assistant Professor at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. He obtained a PhD in Chemistry, specializing in Molecular Biophysics, from the City University of New York, and he was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He has participated in four Junior Academy Challenges and has mentored three teams.
Kimberly Merani, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Kimberly is a Graduate Research Fellow at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has mentored several teams of students through Junior Academy Challenges with the New York Academy of Sciences.