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A Novel Approach To Teaching Hidden Markov Models To A Diverse Undergraduate Population, Philip Heller, Pratyusha Pogaru
A Novel Approach To Teaching Hidden Markov Models To A Diverse Undergraduate Population, Philip Heller, Pratyusha Pogaru
Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity
Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are an essential tool for Bioinformatic analysis, with extensive success at finding patterns (e.g. CRISPR arrays or genes of interest) in DNA or protein sequences. HMMs are conceptually intricate, and the algorithms that make use of them are complicated. Thus they present a challenge to Bioinformatics instructors at the undergraduate level, particularly when the students’ educational backgrounds are broadly diverse. At San Jose State University, many undergraduate Bioinformatics students are Biology majors with little or no prior coursework in mathematics, statistics, or programming. For this population a theory-based approach to teaching HMMs would be ineffective. To …
The Promise Of An Energy Tracker Curriculum For Promoting Home-School Connections And Youth Agency In Climate Action, Elizabeth M. Walsh, Derek Jenkins, Eugene Cordero
The Promise Of An Energy Tracker Curriculum For Promoting Home-School Connections And Youth Agency In Climate Action, Elizabeth M. Walsh, Derek Jenkins, Eugene Cordero
Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity
Formal classroom learning experiences that support sustainable behaviors outside the classroom necessarily must bridge students’ home and school lives, as knowledge and practice learned in the classroom is implemented outside of school. To this end, we study the impact of the Green Ninja Energy Tracker curriculum, which uses students’ home energy data in the classroom to promote engagement in climate change and conservation behaviors. Data is drawn from class observations, a focus group, and pre- and post- surveys of a pilot implementation of this curriculum in a diverse 12th-grade Earth Science classroom at an alternative school. We investigate what factors …