Center for Instruction, Research, and TechnologyIT Grants: Mini-Grants for FacultyRecipient Project AbstractsSpring 2008 Technology-based Research Category: The impact of climate change on animals dependent on variable thermal environments PI: Michael Angilletta, Ecology and Organismal Biology Recent changes in climate pose severe challenges to animals that regulate their temperature through behavior and physiology. For some organisms Increasing temperatures make suitable habitats more difficult to find and constrain activity and production of individuals. We are designing computer models to understand these constraints and their potential impacts on populations. These models will be tested by directly manipulating thermal environments and observing the behavior of small vertebrates. Our findings should help to assess the biological impacts of climate change on local scales. This research involves collaborators from multiple universities, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research Station at Sevilletta, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. This collaboration should lead to peer-reviewed publications and additional support from the National Science Foundation.
Integration of Emerging Computer Video and Projection Technologies
for the Accessibility of Youth and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Audiences in
Live Performance This project will examine the use of emerging computer video and projection technologies for accessibility for and outreach to two specific audiences—the deaf/hard-of hearing audience and the contemporary youth audience. Both of these groups require new and inventive uses of both current and emerging performance technologies to aid in the understanding, appreciation, and effectiveness in performances. This grant asks for a high-end multimedia CPU and the appropriate software in order to set up and establish multimedia environments that would aid in this goal. This research and practical application will include the use of supertitles, visual storytelling, live digital interaction between performer and hardware/software, and the possibility of virtual scenography.
Use of biofeedback in the assessment of stress as a factor related
to chronic health problems and serious illness Investigating potential health-related interventions to address illness and chronic health challenges is an important facet of Indiana State University’s engagement with the Wabash Valley. Stress and its negative effects is a known factor that can both lead to negative chronic health conditions and impact a person if diagnosed with a serious illness (e.g., cancer). Interventions that help a man, woman, or child understand stress and learn ways to effectively cope and reduce stress’ potential harm will greatly increase their chance of regaining and enhancing their health. This project utilizes technology to measure stress *via blood volume/pulse, respiration, EMG/EEG/EKG) as part of the delivery and assessment of complementary and integrative interventions within a community-based setting.
Effectiveness of Ecological Niche Modeling as a Tool for the
Conservation of the State Endangered Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata) Crawfish frogs are of considerable conservation concern across their range in the United States and are listed as endangered in the state of Indiana. While there is some information on general habitat use, the secretive nature of crawfish frogs has made detailed investigations difficult and recovery plans ineffective. In order to determine the distribution of crawfish frogs across the state of Indiana a modeling approach will be employed. Using the Program MaxEnt (maximum entropy method for modeling species geographic distributions), we will use available environmental data and known localities to model the species potential distribution within the state. Areas with high potential probabilities of occurrence will then be surveyed to determine the effectiveness of this modeling tool in wildlife conservation. Emerging Technologies Category:
An Exploration of the Use of Wireless Computing for Assessment,
Diagnosis, and Treatment in the Clinical Setting The proposed project entails utilizing laptop computers with wireless Internet connections in Porter School Psychology Clinic at Indiana State University. Graduate students in the School Psychology Program conduct psychoeducational evaluations, determine eligibility for special education services, provide diagnoses (with appropriate supervision), and design interventions for their clients. It is hypothesized that each of these functions can be accomplished more accurately and/or efficiently with the help of technology and related services, including assessment software, digital texts and databases, and Internet resources. The portability afforded by laptop computers with wireless connections will permit their use throughout the clinic facility.
Not in my Backyard!? A Student Digital Documentary on Illegal
Immigration during an Election Year The grant will be used for the purchase of equipment to be used in the shooting of a student produced film documentary that addresses the disparate attitudes of ISU faculty and students and Wabash Valley communities regarding the topic of illegal immigration in an election year in which the topic is part of the political landscape of America. Students will utilize available technologies (laptops, World Wide Web) in conjunction with an emerging technology such as high definition video camcorders that have a 1080p imaging output and 5.1 surround sound. It is proposed that utilizing said technology will result in a professional and "theater-ready" documentary that will add another viewpoint to the opposing voices and opinions regarding the subject of illegal immigration into the USA.
The Use of Digital Video Technology in Physical Education to Enhance
Student Learning The purpose of this project is to facilitate students’ self-reflection cycles and use of effective teaching practices in the Instructional Strategies (PE 290) class with the use of digital video technology. With the use of DVD camcorders and wireless microphone systems, students will plan, deliver, and formally analyze and assess their teaching performances. Students will assess their digital lessons by using systematic observations (for example: teacher use of time, teacher feedback, and teacher movement) to develop an individualized learning plan. Added bbenefits to digital videotaping of students’ performances are that 1) it facilitates post-lesson conference for the instructor and students, 2) it can be used for assessment data (more accountable), and 3) students can self-assess to set their own goals to improve teaching performances.
Investigating the effects of using technology and video coding
software on student teacher development in physical education The proposed research project will investigate the effects of using technology on student teachers’ teaching skill development and observation skills. The technology that will be utilized in this project includes: (1) videotaping teaching performance, (2) monitoring teaching performance and observation with digital media, and (3) analyzing teaching performance using a computerized systematic observation system (BEST software program). It is hypothesized that the effects of technology will enhance the development of student teacher's teaching performance and observation skills.
Developing Video Modules To Enhance Student's Active Learning The purpose of this project is to expand the active learning component of business courses by incorporating video clips demonstrating the methods industry professionals follow in managing typical hazard risk issues faced by organizations. These video modules will be integrated as a part of the overall collaborative problem solving strategy that is followed by student teams. To provide an experiential learning environment for the teams, actual projects are undertaken and form the basis of the course. Being able to observe actual situations from the video modules will enhance the student’s active learning, particularly when these situations can be reflected upon, discussed with other members of the team, and used to help solve an organization’s risk problem.
Just-in-Time Delivery of Sociological Concepts of Culture Using Flip
Video Technology to Produce Ethnographic Data Students in Sociology 465: Comparative Societies look for the reflections of culture through four elements that can be exemplified visually to increase their comprehension: the cultural object, its creator, its receiver, and the social world that forms the context within which the object creator and receiver are embedded. This project incorporates the innovative Flip video camera and its specially designed software to capture video of Moroccan life and culture that provides primary data for qualitative analysis and allows the teacher to present personally selected and recorded material specific to the discipline of Sociology to students in a timely way. Students will view key interviews (audible and articulated elements of the cultural object), artifacts (visible and tangible elements), and behaviors to gain insight into how these are embedded in the cultural context of Morocco.
Development of a Virtual Urban Remote Sensing Lab at Indiana State
University Urban population has been rapidly increasing over the past years. This has not only led to the creation of point loads on both renewable and non-renewable resources but has also caused environmental degradation in and around the cities. There has been considerable amount of research carried out by environmental and earth scientists to detect, monitor, analyze, and model the effects of urbanization. The main aim of this project is to create the first urban remote sensing lab in the world, which would focus on the implemetation of emerging technologies in the field of remote sensing for addressing the issues of urban environment and sustainability. The lab also is a platform for urban remote sensing scientistists and researchers to have both physical and virual space to get together, to discuss, to share information, and to conduct research and disseminate the results.
Interactive Career Center in Second Life: Practicing Reality in a
Virtual World A center to improve student career opportunities converges with Second Life to create a new way for students to gain information regarding career opportunities, as well as practice their interviewing skills in a virtual world. The career center would focus on the needs of the college of business students, but would also be a model for interaction in Second Life for people interested in creating an identity for ISU in Second Life. Second Life is a virtual world owned by Linden Labs. Within the virtual environment, users create avatars (images of characters) they can use to move around and interact with others. At this time more than 300 universities have a presence in Second Life.
Using
Biofeedback as a Tool to Maximize Student Learning of Mental Skills
Training and Performance Enhancement The purpose of this project is to maximize the learning experiences in the classroom by using Biofeedback equipment for Applied Sport Psychology in the Health and Human Services Building at Indiana State University. Thought Technology, Ltd. is the leading biofeedback and psychophysiological instrument manufacturer and may be utilized within Sport and Exercise Psychology to gain awareness and train athletes to manage their physiological responses to competitive pressure. Biofeedback will provide students with an opportunity to understand how thoughts affect the body and performance, how to monitor arousal, how to identify stressful components of performance, and strategies to facilitate concentration. Not only will this technology be beneficial as an experiential learning component in the classroom, but it may also facilitate scholarship efforts and community engagement with coaches and athletes.
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