Education Commons^™

Presence Of Electron Donor/Acceptor Radiographic Contrast Media In Unusual Photosynthesis Environment Of Fresh Plant Cells: Near-Infrared And X-Ray Characterization, Tetiana Soloviova, Subhendra Sarkar, Amina Shahbaz, Aldona Gjoni

Publications and Research

Photosynthesis is a chemical process through which light energy is used to convert inorganic material (water and carbon dioxide) into organic molecules. Anaerobic photosynthesis, also known as anoxygenic photosynthesis, is the process by which certain bacteria use light energy to create organic compounds but do not adequately involve oxygen. In this experiment we are trying to influence photosynthesis (light and dark reactions: PS-I and PS-II by electron rich gadolinium/iodine complexes like Eovist and Isovue. We also performed X-ray and NIR reflection spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure Gd difusivity and PS-I/II infrared response. The results for X-ray (45kvp and 5 Mas ) …

Arduino Microcontrollers In The Classroom: Teaching How To Phrase Effective Science Questions And How To Answer Them With Original Data, Tony Dinsmore

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Arduino microcontrollers in the classroom: teaching how to phrase effective science questions and how to answer them with original data. Prof. Tony Dinsmore, UMass Physics This workshop will develop course modules that address a challenge in the science curriculum: how do we teach basic problem-solving and curiosity-based research skills in a classroom setting? The standard science curriculum teaches concepts and theory quite well but leaves rather little opportunity for students to take the lead in designing and implementing their own investigations. The workshop will use the Arduino, an inexpensive microcontroller that is simple to set up. A huge range of …

Fostering Computational Thinking In An Introductory Physics Lab, Diana Sachmpazidi

STEM Instructional Graduate Teaching Assistant Posters

•Thinking computationally means conceptualizing a problem and formulating it in a way that a computer can solve it (Wing, 2010). •Computational Thinking (CT) is the third pillar of the scientific method along with theory and experimentation and is a fundamental skill that K-12 students and undergraduates should be equipped with (Wing, 2016; 2006). •Research on CT has only been active the last 10 years and most studies are still at the stage of ideas (Kalelioglu et al., 2016). •The integration of CT aspects in instruction is a widely expanding phenomenon in physics classrooms in the context of higher education, and …

Solar Cells, D. Venkataraman

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Solar cells convert the sun's energy into electrical energy. In this workshop, I will discuss the processes involved in solar cell and various types of solar cells that are being developed as an alternative to silicon solar cells. I will also demonstrate how students can build a solar cell from readily available materials.

Chemistry Student Attitudes And Utilization Of Office Hours, Dieng Barbacar, Edgar Gomez, Andre Rodriguez

Publications and Research

While research has demonstrated that faculty-student interactions increase retention and graduation rates, faculty often report that their office hours are underutilized. To better understand students’ attitudes, usage and plans towards faculty hours a survey was administered in the second to third week of the fall 2018 semester to students in 5 sections of general chemistry courses. The goal was to better understand how students perceive the benefits and hindrances of office hours, along with current or planned attendance. Prior to survey administration, it was speculated that not attending office hours could be because they were not scheduled at a convenient …

Rpp Panel Chicago: History Of Cafecs, Lucia Dettori, Dale Reed, Steven Mcgee, Don Yanek, Andrew Rasmussen, Ronald Greenberg

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.

Air Pressure, Clouds, And Weather, Laura Shofield

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

1) What are basis characteristics of the atmosphere?

2) What is the horizontal and vertical movement of air in a “High” and “Low?”

3) How do clouds form and what can they tell us?

4) How are temperature, pressure and clouds related?

5) Applying concepts to real-time data

Concentration, Amount And Counting By Weighing, Julian Tyson

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Concentration, Amount and Counting by Weighing

UMass Amherst STEM Ed Institute Saturday Workshop 2/3/2018

Julian Tyson, Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry. Tyson@chem.umass.edu

Session 1. Introductions.

Ice-breaker: The elementarity contest.

Setting the scene: “How much arsenic do we eat?” Why do we want to know? The Consumer Reports articles (Nov 2012 and Nov 2014)

Dealing with really big and really small numbers.

Session 2. Amount, concentration

Solids, liquids and gases. The “parts per” concept.

Session 3. Counting by weighing

The count equation. Rice grains (the bottle content problem), atoms and molecules.. Chemical formulas and balanced chemical expressions. The numbers in the …

Teaching And Learning Mathematics In The Ar/Vr Environment, Alexander Vaninsky

Publications and Research

This presentation discusses teaching and learning mathematics in augmented (AR) or virtual (VR) reality created by a combination of goggles and earphones. It claims that interactive learning in such an environment is more attractive and efficient. It increases motivation and interest in the subject matter. The approach is underlain by the findings of educational neuroscience considering the learning process as the formation of domains in the brain forming mathematics knowledge centers. The teaching process provides sensory excitation and establishes connections among these and other domains. Hardware and software are available in the market. The suggested approach allows for practical implementation …

Overview, Benjamin Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon, Jennifer Welborn, Wayne Kermenski

Patterns Around Us

No abstract provided.

Superhero Robotics, Frank Sup, Brian Umberger, Nick Sawyer

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Association Between Quantitative Maturity And Student Performance In Simulation-Based And Non-Simulation Based Introductory Statistics, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The recent simulation-based inference movement in algebra-based introductory statistics courses has provided preliminary evidence of improved student conceptual understanding and retention of key statistical concepts. However, little is known about whether these positive effects in courses using simulation-based inference are preferentially distributed across different types of students. Recent studies investigating predictors of student performance in traditional, algebra-based introductory statistics courses (Stat 101) have focused primarily on mathematical achievement or competencies in high school and early college. Little consideration has been given to how prior experience and competency with statistical thinking may be associated with student performance in college-level courses. In …

Managing Your Professional Identity: Leveraging Social Media And Emerging Metrics To Demonstrate Professional Impact, Megan R. Sapp Nelson

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This session will assist graduate students to deliberately develop an online professional identity that will uniquely identify them as an academic as well as positively highlight their personal strengths.

Students will walk away with a plan to create a unique professional identifier and an understanding of how to measure the impact of online scholarly communication.

Topics included are:

ORCID ID

social media, such as LinkedIn & ResearchGate

Alternative Metrics (Altmetrics), such has Kudos, ImpactStory, & AltMetric

Data repositories, such as GitHub & FigShare

Atomic Force Microscopes, Rob Snyder, Jennifer Welborn

Nanotechnology Teacher Summer Institutes

PowerPoint overview. A student activity that builds an atomic force microscope model.

Producing Electricity With Solar Cells, Chris Emery, Rob Snyder

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

How Much Arsenic Do We Eat?, Julian Tyson

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Air Pressure, Clouds And Weather, Laura Schofield, Tina Ciarametaro

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

User Expectations Of Library Genealogy Databases V. What They Actually Get, Rosemary L. Meszaros, Katherine Pennavaria

DLPS Faculty Publications

An analysis and comparison of two genealogical databases: Ancestry.com and Heritagequest.com.

Wind Power, Susn Reyes

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Extreme Math Makeover: Mathematics Assessment And Reporting In The Era Of The Common Core Standards, Glenn W. "Max" Mcgee

Publications & Research

This presentation discusses the need to develop high quality performance based assessments of the Common Core Mathematical Standards and Mathematical Practices. Several examples of performance assessments from high achieving countries as well as from the 2009 PISA test are included.

Using Solar Energy, Peter Talmage

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

• Best energy source for the environment • It’s getting more economical every day • Easy to maintain • Cuts down on foreign oil imports

Mapping Missions And Geographic Positioning Systems, Rob Snyder

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Searching For Binding Partners For The Novel Phkg1 Variant, Phkγ 181, Kishore Polireddy

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

Phopshorylase kinase (PhK) is a hexadecameric holoenzyme made up of four different subunits in the arrangement (αβγδ)4 and has total molecular mass of 1.3MDa. Alpha and β are regulatory subunits, γ is catalytic, and δ is an intrinsic molecule of calmodulin. PhK is a serine threonine kinase with glycogenolytic regulatory functions. Our lab has recently discovered that the γ subunit can be alternatively processed to produce a truncated form of 181 residues (γ-181). This variant of γ contains a phosphorylation site for PK-C, and its activity is influenced by this phosphorylation. We are using a LexA based yeast two hybrid …

Perceived Purpose Of Midterm Evaluations And The Effect On Student Responses, Andrew Caudill

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Environmental Factors Influencing Obesity In The Workplace, Jagdish Khubchandani, Crystal Rowland

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

A research project that aims to conduct focus groups in an industrial setting which will provide information to design surveys on “employees perceptions of environmental factors that influence obesity at workplace”

Group Production Manipulations Influence Decision Criteria In Group Brainstorming, Bryan Thomas Hall, Brandy Johnson

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

No abstract provided.

Motor Interference On Memory Tasks, Brandy Johnson

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

No abstract provided.

Examinations Of Future Time Perspective, Self Determination Theory, And Self-Talk As Correlates Of Exercise Behavior, Thomas Desena

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

No abstract provided.

Attentional Focus, Intensity, & Level Of Expertise, Diana Gieske, Melissa Abo, Dustin Strupp

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

No abstract provided.