1-7 of 7 results
-
Cbud Computing for Meteorology Education
PI Curtis James
Weather analysis and forecasting require both critical thinking and three-dimensional spatial analysis skills to apply complex theory to the diagnosis of atmospheric processes from multiple environmental variables in a variety of formats.
Existing websites used by meteorology students to visualize atmospheric fields are not designed to facilitate synthesis of weather information because they offer a limited menu of “standard” meteorological displays without pedagogical intent or clear reference to theoretical underpinnings. Thus, there exists a significant opportunity to enhance online weather visualization tools in the context of meteorology education. This project seeks to create a virtual online LINUX server using a cloud service provider for 4D weather analysis and visualization in real time. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's (UCAR's) Unidata will configure the server using the Local Data Manager (LDM), a prototype installation of AWIPS II standalone EDEX server and CAVE client, and a RAMADDA server. Other meteorological tools will be configured for real-time use by National Weather Service meteorologists and the Department of Meteorology. All of these software packages will be accessible from any computer or mobile device using a web browser, and will support the Department's new focus in Emergency Response Meteorology practices and applications.
Contact Information
Categories: Faculty-Staff
-
Increasing student learning and engagement using a TV series: Leadership in the Final Frontier
PI Anke Arnaud
Educators are continuously concerned with developing innovative and effective teaching methodology to increase student learning and engagement. This study is designed to assess the effectiveness of an innovative instructional methodology, using a TV series to teach and develop leadership understanding, skills and knowledge.
During a semester long class on leadership, students were taught abstract leadership concepts and theories using Episodes from the Star Trek Series. We used inductive reasoning methodology, watching an episode of Star Trek and then developing leadership theory, and deductive reasoning methodology, learning about a leadership theory and then analyzing the theory using an episode of Star Trek, to develop leadership understanding, skills and knowledge. Student journal entries, questionnaires on student engagement and learning, and end of course evaluations were used to assess the effectiveness of the teaching methodology. Results support our expectation that student learning and engagement can be enhanced using the effective application of TV episodes.Categories: Faculty-Staff
-
Automated Homework System: Improving Teaching Quality by Utilizing Technology
PI Farshid Azadian
One of the essential elements in improving the students' skills and abilities and helping them to better understand the course materials is homework assignments. A well designed and purposeful homework not only enhances the student's understanding but also may provide valuable feedback to instructors.
However, the process of designing and grading homework assignments are laborious from the instructor's perspective for large classes. Moreover, similarity of the assignments for all students set the stage for potential plagiarism which when is left undetected can set an undesirable ethical precedence.
In this research, our objective is to provide an automated procedure that assists instructors to utilize homework assignments more productively and reduces the possibility of unethical practices. Our main idea is to create a tool that uses the existing teaching resources to produce individual (non-identical) homework assignments for each student, automatically grade them and provide feedback to students.Categories: Faculty-Staff
-
STEM Literacy and Service-Learning
PI Sally Blomstrom
This service-learning project investigates STEM literacy and involves students in sections of Speech (COM 219). Students create an audio tour about a specimen from the A. Jewell Schock Natural History Museum. The audio tour includes the specimen’s scientific name, a description of its biology, its habitat, its diet, and the forces of flight related to the specimen as well as its biomechanics.
They will be instructed to develop content which includes descriptive information about the biology of the specimen (science), the biomechanics used (engineering), dimensions of the specimen and its rate of speed (math). They will use technology in the process of creating and sending the audio files, and the museum will use technology to make the files available to visitors of the museum, both online and in person (technology). The goal is to have students engage in research on a STEM topic and then communicate their knowledge to a general audience using technology. We are investigating if, and to what extent, the project increases STEM literacy which is defined as a demonstrated ability to read STEM text, tables, and graphics with understanding, to evaluate the quality of the read information, to identify relevant information and incorporate that information in written or oral communication.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
-
Teaching Innovation
PI Aaron Glassman
CO-I Rosalee Opengart
This research will examine the role of cognitive predisposition in the ability of university students to operationalize innovation. Using Regulatory Focus Theory as a lens, different university curricula from schools teaching innovation will be compared to determine if there is a specific way in which innovation could be taught to allow the most number of students to operationalize the concept of innovation. Finally, innovation as a concept will be connected to entrepreneurship and creativity and the scope of the research widened for further study.
Innovation and creativity are the lifeblood of organizations. As such, businesses expect college graduates to exhibit the skills necessary to engage in these behaviors. This research explores the concept of innovation, whether it is innate, or if the skill can be taught within the university setting, and how universities are addressing the need for, and teaching innovation. A search of the word “innovation” within educational courses found that most courses are theoretically-oriented or are efforts to cultivate entrepreneurs and/or new inventions, though some appear more practical in nature. A review of colleges and universities offering courses in innovation found that approximately half the universities reviewed offered courses in innovation. This work contributes to the discussion of business education regarding innovation and the importance of aligning business education with organizational needs.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
-
Aviation Management Education Study (AMES)
PI Jason Newcomer
CO-I James Marion
CO-I Matthew Earnhardt
The Aviation Management Education Study (AMES) is a longitudinal effort consisting of a series of research papers covering various facets of aviation education as it pertains to managers in the field and hiring of industry professionals.
In the last 34 years, corporate America and the aviation professions have changed due to (a) increased air travel, (b) outsourcing functions, (c) aviation research, (d) federal regulation, and (e) the changed U.S. economy (Katkin, et al., 2013; Mootien, Warren, Morris, & Enoch, 2013; Quinlan, Hampson, & Gregson, 2013; Rango & Laliberte, 2010). The specific business problem is the lack of current, correlated demographic data of aviation managers, as well as any resultant significance testing of the aforementioned data to determine if there are necessary academic pre-requisites to obtaining management positions in aviation.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
-
Best practices in teaching statistics and research methods within an aviation curriculum
PI Robert Walton
Student learning assessment is necessary at most universities, the question is whether or not student learning assessment though the use of tests can be turned into a less anxiety-provoking experience and, most ideally, into a summative learning experience for students. Using a three-test format student assessment this research examined an alternate testing paradigm, aiming directly at anxiety associated with tests and grades.
This research will examine an alternate testing paradigm, aiming directly at anxiety associated with tests and grades. The research question for this study is whether or not student assessment though the use of a traditional testing format could be made less anxiety provoking and, most ideally, be turned into a teaching/learning experience for students. Students in a statistics course will be assessed using a three-test format. Tests will be scored immediately after completion, with the student present and incorrect responses explained. The student can then retake an alternate exam and will receive the highest grade on any version of the test they take. Data will be examined for statistically-significant indicators from version 1, to 2, to 3 of the examinations.Categories: Faculty-Staff
1-7 of 7 results