Recipient Project Abstracts
Spring 2007
Technology-based
Research Category:
Developing Internet2 Based Remote Lab Applications
PI: Joe Ashby, Electronics and Computer Technology
Practical lab work is an essential part of engineering and
technology education. The distance education remote lab provides the learner with access to traditional laboratory
facilities through on-line digital portals. The enabling technologies involved in the remote lab approach include
web cameras, audio, web connected instrumentatio, and associated supporting software and safety systems. Remote lab
design and development work is an ongoing effort in the COT. The advent of Internet2 opens a new area of investigation,
namely high bandwidth audio, video, and data transfer capability. This project supports MS ECT graduate students in
the research and application of Internet2 compliant technologies to remote lab systems. Any significant findings from
this work will be published.
Quantum Chemical Calculations of the Conversion of Methane to Methanol on Metal Oxide Clusters
PI: Eric Glendening, Chemistry
Metal oxide catalysts can be used to convert natural gas (predominantly methane) to liquid fuels (like methanol). Efforts to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of these catalysts are hampered, however, because the reaction mechanisms are largely unknown. Over the past decade, chemists have sought to determine these mechanisms by studying reactions that simple hydrocarbons undergo on small clusters of metal oxides. We use quantum chemistry calculations on ISU's high performance computer to explore these mechanisms. This project will focus on gas-phase conversion of methane to methanol on the most simple metal oxide clusters of manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni), complementing our recent work on the reactions with vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and iron (Fe) oxide clusters.
Virtual Behavioral Ecology Field Site
PI: Rusty Gonser, Life Sciences
CoPI: Elaina Tuttle, Life Sciences
Twenty years of field experience and research has created a wealth of information on white throated sparrows and fairy wrens, revealing behavioral variations that influence sexual selection and the evolution of a species. The PI's research utilizes observational and experimental methods in the field and laboratory along with concepts and techniques borrowed from molecular gnetics, physiology, and other disciplines to investigate evolutionary questions. This request supports educational outreach and experiential learning through creation of a virtual field experience in ecological biology. Video of the habitat and actual reserachers in a base camp and wilderness will be captured and used to create multimedia resources and curriculum for freshman biology and K12 outreach.
Bringing Remote Learning Experiences to Life in the Classroom
PI: Anthony Rathburn, Geography, Geology, Anthropology
Teaching students in the natural sciences poses the difficulty of conveying the excitement and challenges of field research. It is especially difficult to convey to students what life and research is like aboard a marine research vessel. Training students for these experiences has traditionally required a training cruise aboard a ship. I have been funded by NSF to conduct seafloor research off the coast of California in July, 2007, and will also send students on a training cruise. ISU undergraduate students will actively participate on both cruises. With the help of scientists from well-known oceanographic Institutions, students will be trained in hands-on research techniques using the latest technologies, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). I will bring these experiences and training to ISU classrooms by using 3-D video, 2-HD video, still cameras, shipboard interviews, and student presentations.
The Use of Current Technology to Support Hands-On Experiences for
Communication Students Studying the News Media
PI: Debra Worley, Communication
Co PI: Rachel Wedding McClelland, Jeffrey Perkins, Communication
Students in the ISU Communication Department in the areas of journalism and public relations will develop, manage and report on a mock outbreak of Asian Flu on the ISU campus. This grant would allow for the acquisition of digital video cameras and related equipment, and editing for software that will enhance the experiential learning component of the curriculum for communication students.
Students will be able to view and evaluate their performance addressing the public during an emergency situation. An edited version of the students’ work will be duplicated and given to them for use in their portfolios. Communications professors will also use the finished product as a tool for teaching writing students how to cover press conferences..
Emerging
Technologies
Field Experience Artifacts
PI: Dennis L. Ballard, Music
CoPI: Alex Ruthmann, Music
The music education division is developing a collection of quality video and audio taped exemplars of field experience students working in music classrooms and ensembles. These video and sound files would be used for assessing the students teaching capabilities as well as be available for them to include in personal portfolios that are going to be part of a dispositions final assessment for all music education students. With the students permission excerpts will also be used in methodology classes to demonstrate effective teaching techniques in actual classrooms. The technology used will be hard drive based video cameras with external stereo microphones that can be positioned in the front of the classroom for quality recordings.
ISU ImageBuild, Phase I
PI: Alden Cavanaugh, Art
CoPI: Cinda May, Library
ISU ImageBuild utilizes collection management software to develop and deliver online searchable databases containing digital assets drawn from the collections of the Art Slide Library and Wabash Valley Visions & Voices Digital Memory Project in support of research, teaching, and experiential learning, particularly in the areas of Art History, Technology, Local History, and Family and Consumer Science. A web-based gateway furnishes access to the resources as well as provides links to other electronic repositories. Through ISU’s wireless environment and laptop initiative, ISU faculty and students may develop personal slideshows for classroom lectures and presentations, as well as prepare and study for examinations 24/7. Phase I focuses on architecture and will digitize approximately 13,000 slides in the Art Slide Library and expand access to 2,200 images in Wabash Valley Visions & Voices.
Incorporation of Electronic Resources into the Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory
PI: Richard W. Fitch, Chemistry
We propose to introduce the organic chemistry laboratory to the electronic resources available to the modern chemist. These tools include electronic chemical structure drawing, molecular modeling, and electronic notebook keeping. Electronic resources allow the practicing chemist to prepare his/her notebook for an experiment, draw and look at the molecular structure of the molecule in two and three dimensions, giving him/her the ability to better see the arrangement of atoms in space and visualize possible outcomes of chemical reactions before the first flask is taken from the drawer. For the student, this means not having to keep a permanent paper notebook that can be lost or damaged. For the instructor, this means getting legible, unstained reports that are date and time stamped. Hopefully, for both teacher and student, this leads to greater focus on content rather than appearance.
Using Avid Xpress DV to Create Professional Video Projects
PI: Feng-Qi Lai
CIMT 625 is an interactive video production class. This class familiarizes students with various roles in a video production process. Based on the nature of the CIMT 625 course, the learning activities for CIMT 625 were redesigned and structured to facilitate student application of classroom learning to a community-based setting. The community benefited while students learned knowledge and skills much more thoroughly through the experiential learning approach. However, the video editing software installed for CIMT 625 is Adobe Premiere Pro, which needs to be updated. Avid Xpress DV meets professional standards better than Adobe Premiere Pro. In order for CIMT 625 students to be able to create more professional video products to serve ISU community, this project request 10 copies of Avid Xpress DV for class use.
Project Lead the Way Civil Engineering and Architecture
PI: Don McNabb, Manufacturing and Construction Technology
This is an Emerging Technology Project for the College of Technology. The College of Technology, Wabash Valley IVTC, and the Vigo County School Corporation have formed an alliance for delivering the Project Lead the Way curriculum to the area schools. Funds from this grant will be used for attending a summer workshop to become a certified PLTW teacher. The cost of this project is $5667.00 of which the College of Technology will provide $2461.00 leasving a remainder of $3206.00 being requested from this proposal. The strategies that will be used though out the project will include extensive use of; 1) the Internet 2 type of connection between ISU and Sullivan High School, 2) laptop assignments for students, 3)projection of true 3D renderings, and potential use of Breeze for additional instructor/student accessibilities.
3D Reverse Engineering Digital Microscribe
PI: Jeff McNabb, Manufacturing and Construction Technology
CoPI: Ming Zhou, Affan Badar, Industrial Mechanical Technology
The MicroScribe digitizer is ideal for reverse engineering which is perhaps the most critical tool set an engineering student can possess to be competitive in the job market. The MicroScribe is the only device of its kind that provides quick, efficient and accurate measuring of parts. It is prevalent in industries of all types and perfect for the professor in any engineering education classroom. Industry examples include automotive, rapid prototyping, product development, manufacturing, packaging, inspection, architectural, video gaming and animation. To otherwise duplicate the fuctionality of the MicroScribe in a college classroom would normally cost close to six figures if not more. Important industry case studies can be seen at
www.emicroscribe.com/casestudy/index.htm.
Mobile Projection System for Art Projects
PI: Sala Wong, Art
To accompany the Univeristy's laptop initiative, the Mobile Projection System will allow students to expand beyond the physical space of the classroom and into the campus and the city of Terre Haute. New Media Art, which works with the computer, relies very much on projection as a means of presentation. The newly acquired portable digital projectors will allow us to explore the projection surface as an art form more freely outside of the classroom with individual laptops. Projects will utilize alternative spaces and reach bigger and more diverse audiences. Enhancing their exposure to alternative use of digital media, students will be able to interact with physical spaces using the mobile projection system with their laptops. Works will be projected around ISU campus as well as streets of Terre Haute.
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