Education Commons^™

A Tai-The-Math Historian Ai-Enhanced Time Travel Adventure!, Robert W. Maloy, Sai Gattupalli, Sharon Edwards

Digital Choice Boards and Interactive Learning Materials for Teachers and Students

Also available online at https://usablemath.org/

Online Version

P-39 Interdisciplinary Diffusion Lab, Sable Canales, Chloe Gaban, Mickey Kutzner

Celebration of Research and Creative Scholarship

Diffusion is a principle in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The rate of diffusion is affected by temperature, particle size, concentration, and material type. Students can model the rate of diffusion based on particle size by contrasting blue and yellow dyes. Two petri dishes containing agar-agar receive a drop of dye at the center. The radius of expansion is recorded over time. The variance of the distribution grows as 𝜎2=4𝐷𝑡, where 𝜎2 is the variance, D is the diffusion constant, and t is time. Graphing variance versus time gives a slope of 4D. Diffusion constants vary by particle size, allowing for …

Teaching Tough (Math) Topics (T^3): Survey Of High School Teachers, Darl Rassi

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The goal of this survey was to investigate which Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, topics practicing secondary mathematics teachers found to be the most difficult to teach. A survey was created and sent to high school teachers within a 60-mile radius of Olivet. The research team described and categorized the responses.

Increase Faculty Awareness Through Personal Experiences In Active Stem Teaching And Learning At A Christian University, Aram Agajanian

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Jesus Christ taught through parables, examples, teamwork, repetitions, and questions, which are the foundations of active teaching and learning. The purpose of this presentation is to increase and invoke faculty involvement in active teaching for optimal student achievement. To emulate Jesus, educators should continually implement hands-on lab experiments; peer-to-peer, project-based, and brain-based teaching methods in their classes. Mentoring students includes providing help through office hours, teaching assistants, weekly homework and exam review sessions, and study groups. Relating to students through social occasions such as meals at the cafeteria; attending the student organizations and sports events, concerts, competitions are additional creative …

Materials For Clean Energy, Ashwin Ramasubramaniam, Omar A. Abdelrahman

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

The need to transition to new and cleaner forms of energy has never been more imperative in the face of climate change. At the same time, the twin pressures from increasing global demand for energy and the scarcity of critical materials needed for new energy technologies impose additional challenges in making the transition to clean energy sources. In this workshop, we will explore how theory, modeling, and experiment are rising to the challenge of designing inexpensive, earth-abundant materials to enable the next generation of clean energy technologies. The goals of this workshop are: 1) to integrate concepts from chemistry, physics …

From Lcd To Living Liquid Crystals, Shuang Zhou

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Liquid crystals are a family of materials that can flow like a liquid, while having orientation order, like a crystal. Traditional liquid crystals are formed by small rod- or disk-shaped organic molecules that spontaneously align with each other. The orientation direction of the liquid crystals molecules, or the director, is sensitive to external fields. For example, a few volt of electric field can cause the director rotate 90 degrees and completely change the optical property of the sample. The susceptibility to external fields made liquid crystals an ideal material for optical switching applications, the best example of which is the …

Exploring Youths’ Decision To Participate In Stem Afterschool Programs, Brooke M. Stafford, Virginia L. J. Bolshakova

Indiana STEM Education Conference

STEM afterschool programs offer a range of academic, social, and emotional outcomes to support positive youth development. In particular, STEM afterschool programs have been shown to increase student self-efficacy and interest in pursuing STEM careers (Chan et al., 2020; Dabney et al., 2012). Youth must first choose to attend the STEM afterschool programs to gain the many benefits offered. However, participation in such programs decreases as youth get older and encounter additional competing interests (i.e., home responsibilities, jobs, etc.). To get youth to attend, STEM afterschool programs must meet the needs of youth by leveraging resources, activities, and relationships.

This …

What Are The Benefits Of Stem Integration In Mathematics Classrooms In Underserved Schools? A Literature Review, Steve Heinold

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The importance of mathematics education and STEM education in K-12 education in the United States is peaking. High stakes testing and focus on 21st Century skills have many schools scrambling to increase test scores while better preparing their students for the “real world.” This literature review looks at the history of STEM education in the United States and the recent focus on STEM integration into core individual subject classrooms, especially mathematics. This review also analyzes the effectiveness of STEM integration to help students from underserved schools and communities. While there is some evidence that engaging and responsive after-school STEM programs …

Math For Emergent Bilinguals. As Easy As Uno, Dos, Tres, Jim Ewing

Diversity Conference

There's a myth that math is a universal language, and yet we struggle to meet the needs of emergent bilinguals (ELs). This motivating session focuses on Spanish—speaking emergent bilinguals. The author of a popular book for teachers will teach you strategies. You’ll learn as easy as uno, dos, tres!

From Soap Bubbles To Cell Membranes, Peter Beltramo

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Have you ever blown a soap bubble and wondered - what causes the bubble to be so stable and produces those colorful reflections of light? The answer lies in a class of molecules known as surfactants, and they have remarkable similarities with the molecules that comprise the cell membrane of all living organisms. In this workshop, we will use the analogy of a soap bubble to describe cellular membrane properties such as chemistry, structure, membrane transport, and ion channel formation. The goals of this workshop are to 1) link initially intractable concepts in biology like intracellular transport to the intuitive …

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 …

Step Up Workshop, Michael J. Wadness, Savvy Lodge-Scharff

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Did you know that teachers are the reason that most undergraduate women in physics chose that degree? That's right. You are key to encouraging women to pursue prosperous careers in physics! The STEP UP project provides access to downloadable research-based lessons about physics and a nationwide community of teachers engaged in changing the future of physics. This insightful and interactive workshop invites participants to join a national movement designed to empower teachers with resources specifically focused on leveraging high school physics teachers' pivotal role in influencing the career choices of women and contributing to the culture change needed to inspire …

Bits, Knits, And Knots:Using Knitting As A Tool To Teach Stem Concepts, Mary Elizabeth Lee-Trimblee, Daria Atkinson, Michelle Berry

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Knitting is an ancient technology as well as an enjoyable pastime that is often overlooked as an object of scientific study. However, knitting can be used as an accessible, low tech tool to teach coding fundamentals, higher level mathematics, and even concepts in physics. In this seminar we will do all three, as well as teach you to knit. We will divide this into 5 modules:

1. Overview of knitting as technology

2. Learning to knit (and teaching it too!)

3. Knitting as coding

4. Tangles, knits, and knots: the knot theory of knitting

5. Recent developments in the physics …

Distance And Its Effect On Betta Aggression, Sydnie Hanson

STAR Program Research Presentations

Betta Splendens are typically known to act very aggressive towards one another, especially between two males. These acts of aggression are shown through flaring of ones fins, chasing and striking opposing Bettas, biting, etc. This experiment shows how distance affects how aggressive male Bettas are with one another

Exploration Of The Lessons Learned By Students Attending Peer-Led Workshops, Fahmida Akhter

Publications and Research

The study is conducted with students attending an additional one-hour a week peer-led workshop associated with their Pre-Calculus class. The study focuses on the following research questions: Do peer-led workshops help students become better at problem solving? What are the lessons learned from peer-led workshops that can be useful and applicable in future courses? Data will be collected through administrating surveys to the students in the peer-led workshop. The data will be organized, analyzed and presented at the poster session.

The Impact Of Peer-Led Workshops In An Intermediate Algebra Course For Women, Minorities, And First-Generation College Students, Malika Ikramova

Publications and Research

The implementation of the Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) instructional model have shown to increase student pass rates and decrease failure and withdrawal rates in foundational mathematics courses. New York City College of Technology has implemented mandatory PLTL workshops in selected sections of MAT 1275: Intermediate Algebra and Trigonometry. Students spend an hour working collaboratively with their classmates guided by peer leader. Results from this study showed gender, ethnicity, and first-generation college student differences in their responses on the effectiveness of peer supported groups in this fundamental mathematics course.

The Role Of Knowledge And Noticing In Teacher Decision Making, Darl Rassi

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In this study, we examined the role that teacher knowledge and noticing played in the decision-making process of two in-service mathematics teachers. Differences between the two teachers and implications for the field will be presented.

Polymers All Around Us, Marcus Cole

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

This presentation is designed to introduce K-12 students to polymer science with the primary aims of establishing a strong foundation in the physical sciences and inspiring students to pursue degrees and careers in STEM-related fields. Examples of natural polymers (e.g., DNA and RNA) and polymers in common materials (e.g., contact lenses, bulletproof glass, composite airplanes, etc.) are presented to demonstrate their importance to our daily lives. The presentation conveys the interdisciplinary nature of polymer science through hands-on experiments and discussion focused on concepts related to polymer chemistry (i.e., gelation and superabsorbent materials), engineering (i.e., injection molding and 3D printing), 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.

The Core Of Social Network Modeling: Industrial Engineering., Shannon C. Roberts, Chaitra Gopalappa, Nazanin Nazanin

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Networks are abound in our everyday lives, from disaster response networks to cellular networks to social networks. In this workshop, we will introduce the different types of networks and how Industrial Engineering is used to model these networks. Next, we will describe current social network modeling research done at UMass. Finally, we will delve into hands-on activities that include social network analysis, such as the clustering of people into groups, and modeling of the spread of ideas in a social network, such as how tweets spread on Twitter.

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 …

Engaging Undergraduate Students In Planetary Science Research For Parabolic Flights, Gillian Gomer, Adrienne Dove, Seamus Anderson, Jeffery Jorges, Alexandra Yates

Gillian Gomer

Halloween House, Madison Flesch, Nick Bonde

Community Engagement Celebration Day

Since 2007, the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society at the University of Northern Iowa has organized a community outreach program called Halloween House. What started out as a one-room chemistry demonstration show 11 years ago, has now evolved into a huge event in collaboration with other STEM clubs on campus. The event brought in between 800-1000 community members, mainly elementary aged-students, last fall. The collaboration amongst different STEM clubs in physics, biology, earth science, and chemistry allows students to have an interdisciplinary experience, exploring all of the sciences and seeing how they all connect. The Halloween House activities …

Ccny Noyce Teacher Academy Highlights 2013-2018, Martin Rosenman

Open Educational Resources

Highlights of The CCNY NOYCE Fellows Teacher Academy 2013-2018.

Strategies For Improving Stem Education; Pathways To Institutional Transformation, Myles Boylan

Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference (2012-2019)

Presenter will provide

Brain Science = Biology + Engineering, Jennifer Welborn, Guangyu Xu, Morton Sternheim, Chris Emery

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

This interdisciplinary (physical and life sciences) seminar exposes participants to cutting edge research at UMASS, Amherst, on cell imaging using a chip which gathers a variety of data on the activities of single cells. Part of the seminar will be a presentation of current research in this area, followed by hands-on activities and a visit to the lab where this research is conducted. Application of this new technology to brain research will be discussed as well as the NGSS standards alignment and classroom applications at various levels and disciplines.

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 …

Sustainability, Ezra Small

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

In 2017, UMass Amherst installed over 15,000 photovoltaic panels on existing buildings and as part of three solar parking-lot canopies on campus. This project is just one of the many components of the “Sustainable UMass” program which strives to both practice and teach about creating and maintaining a sustainable world. This workshop will provide an overview of the work of the campus sustainability program ranging from academics and research to waste and recycling, with a focus on the science and technology of solar electric energy and emissions accounting. Skills such as problem solving, data analysis, predicting and modeling will be …

Student Knowledge Of Environmental Factors In The Dominican Republic, Nicole Sandretto

The Exposition

No abstract provided.