2015 STEAM Education PROCEEDINGS

University/Organization
King Abdulaziz University

Title
A Holistic Approach to Evaluation of Technology Effectiveness in Higher Education

Synopsis
A holistic evaluation framework offers a better understanding of educational technology effectiveness in higher education. The framework treats technology as a part of a larger educational system that includes learners and pedagogical context.

View Paper

University/Organization
Savannah State University, Georgia

Title
A Case Study (Missle Dynamics) of a Time-Varying System

Synopsis:
Most of the control theory is developed around time-invariant systems where the state matrix A consists of scalars which are not functions of time. However, many physical systems are naturally modeled with the elements of the state matrix A depending on time. One example is the dynamics of a missile. Time-varying systems also arise when non-linear systems are linearized about a trajectory. In this work, the state-transition matrix is studied for time-varying systems in order to reach a general solution. The computational effort is significantly more complicated than the time-invariant case. There are many different methods in the literature for finding the statetransition matrix and one of them is adopted. Finally a case study of Missile Dynamics will be analyzed and simulated using MATLAB.

View Paper

University/Organization
Utah Valley University

Title
Meeting STEM Needs in Utah Valley

Synopsis
Utah Valley University’s role in the community is to provide quality academic opportunities intended to promote economic and cultural development. Current UVU STEM efforts are directed at assessing community STEM demands and developing and coordinating recruitment processes and innovative pathways for individuals to enter and remain current in STEM fields.

View Paper

University/Organization
Stephen F. Austin State University

Title
The (Un) Identical Twins: Public Administration and Public Management: Toward Improving Education and Training for Effective Governance in Ghana

Synopsis
The effect of education and training for public officials in Ghana.

View Paper

University/Organization
California University of Pennsylvania

Title
An Error Estimator for Convection-Diffusion Equations

Synopsis
Adaptive algorithms, based on error estimators, are designed to improve the accuracy of the numerical solution of some partial differential equations while limiting the unavoidable resulting increase in the computational complexity to realistic levels. An A Posteriori error estimator for convection diffusion equations, with mathematical analysis and computer implementation, is presented.

View Paper

University/Organization
Boston University

Title
Understand Food Cure with Chinese Yin-Yang Theory

Synopsis
The traditional Yin-Yang theory is the Chinese way to understand and explain the natural world, including medicine, health, and food, etc. Food cure, to cure certain illnesses with food rather than medicine, is very common among the Chinese. The way food can cure some illnesses can be explained with the Yin-Yang theory. One example is why locally produced bee honey can cure pollen allergy. The Chinese Yin-Yang theory can provide an easy and straight forward explanation for the cure.

View Paper

University/Organization
Morgan State University, University of Maryland-College Park

Title 1
Engaging Engineering Students in Systems Engineering Implementation in Software
Defined Radio Technology Development

Synopsis 1
There is an increasing demand for systems engineers in this country, especially in aerospace industry and defense industry. This presentation will discuss our experience in engaging engineering students in serving the systems engineer role in software defined radio (SDR) technology development project at Morgan State University.

View Paper 1

Title 2
Effectiveness of In-Service Reliability in Aircrafts

Synopsis 2
The in-service reliability measures the unforeseen service interruptions due to technical failures and associated required maintenance. The types of interruptions can be described as below:

– Delay at takeoffs, departing later than scheduled time
– Mishandled baggage
– Flight cancellations
– Aircraft has to land at different airport than the scheduled ones (air diversions)
– Aircraft returns to departure airport (turn backs)

The improvements through in-service reliability in these aspects may not ensure 100% reliability, but they are still crucial steps to be taken for high-quality service.

View Paper 2

University/Organization
Western University, Canada

Title 1
Exploring Gender Differences in STEM Career Aspirations Amongst Middle School Students

Synopsis 1
This paper focuses on data collected as part of a larger longitudinal mixed-methods study exploring the impact of outreach workshops on students’ attitude and interest in STEM education. Findings highlight gender differences in STEM career aspirations amongst grade 6, 7 and 8 students.

View Paper 1

Title 2
Exploring Middle School Students’ Attitudes and Interest in Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Subjects

Synopsis 2
This paper focuses on data collected as part of a larger longitudinal mixed-methods study exploring the impact of STEM outreach workshops, and highlights gender differences in students’ attitudes and interest in mathematics, technology, and engineering topics.

View Paper 2

University/Organization
City University of New York

Title
The Role of Mentorship in Supporting African-American Students’ Entry into Stem Careers

Synopsis
This presentation will share the findings of a paper that explored the role of mentorship in promoting African-American students’ entry into STEM careers. Research shows that African-Americans students are disproportionately represented in STEM careers. Their underrepresentation often means that they are unable to fully access career and employment opportunities in STEM. Mentorship has been identified as an integral part of career development.

Programs designed to connect these students with industry professionals who can support early interest and motivation in STEM are often lacking. The presentation will explore strategies that schools and other institutions may consider when designing a mentorship program to address the needs of African American students. This presentation maybe of interest to policymakers, educators and community based organizations who are seeking to develop STEM mentorship programs.

View Paper

University/Organization
Loyola Marymount University

Title
Pre-service Teachers’ Development of Questioning Skills through Common Core Aligned Videotaped Math Lessons

Synopsis
This study documents the effects of video observation on the development of deep questioning skills of pre-service teachers in a mathematical content course for K-8 pre-service teachers. In particular, we examine the questioning strategies used by pre-service teachers in written responses related to Common Core aligned videotaped math lessons.

View Paper

University/Organization
The University of Notre Dame Australia

Title
Improving the Mathematical Content Knowledge of Pre-Service Middle School Teachers

Synopsis
The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle campus offers aspiring middle school teachers a unit focused on improving mathematical content knowledge and proficiency. The students who completed the pre-unit surveys indicated a need to refresh and consolidate mathematical content knowledge. Post-unit surveys indicated overwhelmingly that the unit helped prepare students to become more confident, competent and knowledgeable in mathematical content.

View Paper

University/Organization
Mansfield University

Title
Impact of Video Pre-lab Lectures on Student Lab Performance and Confidence in a Two-semester Organic Course

Synopsis
Pre-lab lectures for organic chemistry laboratory were video recorded, processed through Camtasia, and then posted to YouTube for student access. The videos include the usual information regarding chemistry and glassware set up with a complete model. The impact of these videos on student performance and confidence will be discussed.

View Paper

University/Organization
Loyola Marymount University

Title
Pre-service Teachers’ Development of Questioning Skills through Common Core Aligned Exemplar Videotaped Math Lessons

Synopsis
This study documents the effects of video observation on the development of deep questioning skills of pre-service teachers in a mathematical content course for K-8 pre-service teachers. In particular, we examine the questioning strategies used by pre-service teachers in written responses related to Common Core aligned videotaped math lessons.

View Paper

University/Organization
Howard University – Medical School

Title
The Effects of Pediatric SIV on The Blood Brain Barrier

Synopsis
Pediatric HIV infection remains a global health crisis with an estimated 1,500 children under the age of 15 years becoming infected with HIV-1 each day in the developing world. Children are much more susceptible to HIV-1 neurological impairments than adults, possibly due to a viral/blood brain barrier interaction. Using the Macaca mulatta as a model we test the hypothesis that perinatal HIV infection down regulates the pericyte population leading to a compromised blood brain barrier.

View Paper

University/Organization
The University of Vermont, Burlington

Title 1
Influences of Network Sciences on Food Industry: A Comparison of Local, Regional, and National Perspectives

Synopsis 1
This paper introduces and discusses the relationships between network sciences, marketing strategies, and impacts on local and regional food systems.

View Paper 1

Title 2
Evaluating Impacts of Experimental Learning – The Case Study of Growing Vermont

Synopsis 2
This paper discusses and analyzes a student-run entrepreneurial venture at the University of Vermont by incorporating experiential learning and assessment

View Paper 2

Title 3
Approaches to Helping Educators and Students Learn about Entrepreneurship

Synopsis 3
This workshop is designed for educators to exchange information, share experiences, and learn innovative strategies in teaching entrepreneurship across disciplines.

View Paper 3

University/Organization
Savannah State University

Title 1
Conquering Perfect Numbers Using the Tool of Finite Series

Synopsis 1
Mathematicians and non-mathematicians have been fascinated for centuries by the properties and patterns of numbers. They have noticed that some numbers are equal to the sum of all of their factors (not including the number itself). Such numbers are called perfect numbers. Thus a positive integer is called a perfect number if it is equal to the sum of its proper positive divisors. The search for perfect numbers began in ancient times.

View Paper 1

Title 2
The Double Angle Formula of the Mulatu Numbers

Synopsis 2
The Mulatu numbers were introduced in [1] . The numbers are sequences of numbers of the form: 4,1, 5,6,11,17,28,45… The numbers have wonderful and amazing properties and patterns.

View Paper 2

Title 3
The Mathematical Beauty Of Triangular Numbers

Synopsis 3
1+2+3+4+5+6+7….+n [2]. In other words, triangular numbers are those counting numbers that can be written as n T = 1+2+3+…+ n. So,

T1= 1
T2= 1+2=3
T3= 1+2+3=6
T4= 1+2+3+4=10
T5= 1+2+3+4+5=15
T6= 1+2+3+4+5+6= 21
T7= 1+2+3+4+5+6+7= 28
T8= 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8= 36
T9=1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45
T10 =1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10=55

In this paper we investigate some important properties of triangular numbers. Some important results dealing with the mathematical concept of triangular numbers will be proved. We try our best to give short and readable proofs. Most of the results are supplemented with examples.

View Paper 3

University/Organization
Yonsei University

Title
Design of Computational Thinking Course for College Freshman in Residential Education

Synopsis
Since 2013, Yonsei University extended the higher education in Residential College at international campus, and students live in and interact with a diverse community. Up to now, computer education is narrowly focused on teaching the computer programming languages for mostly science & engineering students. Creativity and Problem solving skills is getting needed for everybody, and then we make it to broaden for all of the freshman year students.

View Paper

University/Organization
Ifugao State University, Philippines

Title
Amalgamation in Philippine Higher Education: The Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC) Experience

Synopsis
The paper focused on the effort of the State Universities and Colleges in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines to rationalise their operation for better quality of academic programs, greater access to higher education in the region and easier mobility of students.

View Paper

University/Organization
Philippine Normal University

Title
Identification and Reduction of Children’s Learning Difficulty and Their
Misconstrued Misbehavior

Synopsis
The researcher identified that reading comprehension is the most common learning difficulty of grade I pupils. The learning difficulties in reading can be manifested through misconstrued misbehavior. To reduce the children’s learning difficulty and their misconstrued misbehavior, other than organizing modified group activities according to skills, The Brain Gym program can be used as an alternative movement-based learning activity.

View Paper

University/Organization
Columbia College, Chicago

Title
‘PERFECT ENOUGH’ – Music from the 3rd Original LCP Studio CD

Synopsis
Perfect Enough is LCP’s 3rd studio CD of original music. Performance presentation features songs from three albums plus new material. Brief discussion about the project, recording & editing techniques, and Q&A augment Performance. Perfect Enough is accompanied by Beyond Perfect – Poster Presentation exploring unique recording and mixing techniques.

View Paper

University/Organization
University of Central Arkansas

Title 1
Literacy Strategies for Inservice Teachers

Synopsis 1
The focus of this presentation will be literacy strategies that were presented to teachers (K-8) in a funded project that was administrated by the Arkansas Department of Education.

View Paper 1

Title 2
Strategies for Enhancing Mathematical Content Knowledge

Synopsis 2
The focus of this presentation will be mathematical strategies that were presented to teachers (K -8) in a funded project that was administrated by the Arkansas Department of Education.

View Paper 2

University/Organization
School of Engineering, The Citadel.

Title
The Impact of A Partnership between Corporation and Post-secondary Institution to
Promote Interest in STEM Education: The Lowcountry Perspective

Synopsis
A case study involves an annual Trebuchet competition called ‘Storm The Citadel!’ through a partnership between Google and the Citadel to promote interest in STEM education in the Lowcountry of SC. Participants range from kindergarteners to seasoned professionals. Over 86% of the participants surveyed overwhelmingly agreed that the competition helped them learn more about STEM and problem solving. The competition also helped them learn how to function as a team and to communicate ideas.

View Paper

University/Organization
BULLETTI Design Bureau

Title
Architecture and Human Identity – Artistic Sustainability

Synopsis
The best measures for the environmental improvement of the city involve not only sustainability meant as balance between ecology and biological systems (however desirable at global scale), but we must also focus on the possibility in architecture to improve the research about artistic sustainability. Creativity is a specific capability of humans and the relationship between creativity and architecture is present right from the early stages of the design process regardless of the scale.

View Paper

University/Organization
Norfolk State University

Title
Artistic Sustainability in Architecture

Synopsis
The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET) at Norfolk State University (NSU) provides a series of services to students and faculty in an effort to enhance academic success, specifically the retention of students in STEM degree programs. The retention rate we are addressing is the freshmen to sophomore retention rate (the number of first-time fulltime freshmen students who enroll at NSU during the fall semester and return to NSU the
following fall semester). A math-focused Summer Bridge Program (Pathway to the STARS) is one of the services provided to incoming freshmen students to aid in increasing this retention rate. This paper will present findings for the cohorts of students participating in the Summer Bridge Program from 2007 – 2012. Information provided will include the summer schedules and activities of the program, mathematics placement tests results, student performance in their fall math classes, the retention rates for the cohort of students, and the overall retention rate for the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology from 2007-2012.

View Paper

University/Organization
University of the Incarnate Word

Title
Lessons for Success: Active and Cooperative Learning in Science Classrooms

Synopsis
This paper examines the successes and challenges for both faculty and students associated with the implementation of cooperative learning in medium to large science classroom settings.

View Paper

University/Organization
Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia

Title
NEW Model on Disaster Preparedness

Synopsis
The study investigated the survivors’ learning experience from the tsunami in Aceh 2004. It examined the learning experience of the survivors based on six areas, namely their capabilities, their limitations of handling the disaster, the challenges faced in terms of leadership, how resources were effective mobilized, public awareness and education, and community self-reliance. The SWOT analysis was conducted to recognize the unique learning experiences. Eventually, a model on disaster preparedness was proposed. The paper aims to highlight the new model on disaster preparedness. Seven key informants were identified for the study. Additionally, a total of 103 respondents took part in the interviews and 450 participated in the survey. It was also found that preparedness is most significant to reduce loss and damage in any disaster. The study suggested the framework for developing and building up preparedness programs and activities. Disaster cannot be prevented but preparedness is found to be the key of the most possible strategies.

View Paper

University/Organization
Utah Valley University

Title 1
Intersection of Math, Origami, Technology, and Art

Synopsis 1
A math-art project that includes explorations with GeoGebra software will be described. The presentation will display how art and technology can be integrated as an in or out of math class project. The project was used at a regional STEM conference for junior-high female students, but part of this project could be adapted to different college classes.

View Paper 1

Title 2
Hands-on Math Activities that Engage Girls in Math, Science and Art

Synopsis 2
Since 2007 the presenter has led outreach programs and participated in other outreach activities that engage undergraduate math/math-ed majors and high school students. In this presentation various hands-on math engagement activities used throughout these years will be presented. Those hands-on activities show that math is fun, interesting, and exciting, and demonstrate that math is behind various applications in origami and art. In
addition, feedback from participating students will be shared.

View Paper 2