Robert J. Beichner, a faculty member at North Carolina State University and creator of the SCALE-UP (Student Centered Active Learning Environment with Upside-down Pedagogies) project, will deliver the keynote address at the annual Genteels’ Excellence in Teaching Conference on Oct. 9.

The conference, presented by the Center for Educational Innovation, will take place in 106 O’Brien Hall, North Campus.

Beichner, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor at NC State, will discuss SCALE-UP, which was developed as a way of facilitating highly collaborative, active learning in large-enrollment courses. The project, first designed for introductory physics courses, has led to changes in classrooms around the world and has been expanded to many other disciplines, including chemistry, math, engineering, biology, business, nursing, history, languages and even literature.

The annual Genteels’ conference is sponsored by an endowment from retired UB education professor Ron Gentile and his wife, Kay Johnson-Gentile, a retired SUNY Buffalo State faculty member. In addition to their faculty positions, they performed for many years as professional musicians under the stage name The Genteels.

For more information on the conference, go to the conference website or call 645-7700.