scholarly journals Promoting the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organic Chemistry Education through Undergraduate Research Experiences at WSSU

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
Fenghai Guo ◽  
Jayla Young ◽  
Nichele Deese ◽  
Ti’Bran Pickens-Flynn ◽  
Dustin Sellers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Funded Research ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Equity And Inclusion

Undergraduate research is well recognized as an effective high-impact educational practice associated with student success in higher education. Actively engaging students in research experiences is considered as one of the several high-impact practices by many agencies including the American Chemical Society. Developing and maintaining an active undergraduate research program benefits both the faculty and students especially those from under-represented minority groups (URM). The infusion of research experiences into undergraduate curriculum enables students from all backgrounds to develop independent critical thinking skills, written and oral communications skills that are very important for successful careers in “STEM” area. Several strategies and activities such as a Peer Mentoring Program (PMP), funded research activities, the infusion of research into organic chemistry labs, undergraduate professional development, research group meetings, presentations at regional/national conferences, and publishing as co-authors on peer-review papers are vital in creating a welcoming research group that promotes the diversity, equity, and inclusion in organic chemistry education. The experiences working on funded research projects, presenting their research data at conferences and publishing papers as co-authors will greatly increase the under-represented minority (URM) students’ chance in landing a job or getting admitted into graduate/professional programs in STEM area.

scholarly journals The tip of the iceberg in organic chemistry classes: how do students deal with the invisible?

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Graulich
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Conceptual Knowledge ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Scholarly Work ◽  
Related Research ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Problem Solving Behavior

Organic chemistry education is one of the youngest research areas among all chemistry related research efforts, and its published scholarly work has become vibrant and diverse over the last 15 years. Research on problem-solving behavior, students' use of the arrow-pushing formalism, the investigation of students' conceptual knowledge and their cognitive skills have shaped our understanding of college students' understanding in organic chemistry classes. This review provides an overview of research efforts focusing on student's perspectives and summarizes the main results and pending questions that may guide subsequent research activities.

Mentoring High-Impact Undergraduate Research Experiences

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Jessie L. Moore ◽  
Angela Myers ◽  
Hayden McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Research Team ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
High Impact ◽  
English Studies ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
One To One

Abstract This article illustrates the Ten Salient Practices of Undergraduate Research Mentors with examples for English studies. The authors include both one-to-one and research-team examples, recognizing that although much English scholarship is solitary, peers and near peers play key roles in high-quality, mentored undergraduate research experiences.

Using undergraduate research to develop transferable skills for the modern workforce

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Jack TH Wang
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Global Knowledge ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Transferable Skills ◽  
Authentic Learning Experiences

In the increasingly competitive global knowledge marketplace, Australian tertiary educators are looking to enrich their program offerings by providing authentic learning experiences for their students. In the biological sciences, this authenticity is best represented by hands-on inquiry and laboratory experimentation, often within the context of research internships. Authentic Large-Scale Undergraduate Research Experiences (ALUREs) aim to broaden the scope of these learning experiences by embedding research into coursework activities accessible by all students within the program. These experiences can promote learning gains in laboratory, analytical, and critical thinking skills, providing students with a transferable skillset applicable to many career paths across the science sector.

Enhancing Diversity in STEM Interdisciplinary Learning

2015 ◽  
pp. 997-1019
Author(s):  
Reginald A. Blake ◽  
Janet Liou-Mark
Keyword(s):  
Stem Education ◽  
Real World ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Diversity In Stem

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines have traditionally been woefully unsuccessful in attracting, retaining, and graduating acceptable numbers of Underrepresented Minorities (URMs). A new paradigm of STEM practices is needed to address this vexing problem. This chapter highlights a novel interdisciplinary approach to STEM education. Instead of being siloed and mired in their respective STEM disciplines, students integrate real world, inquiry-based learning that is underpinned by a strong foundation in mathematics and a myriad of other pillars of STEM activities. These activities include Peer-Assisted Learning Workshops, Mentoring Programs, Undergraduate Research Experiences, STEM Exposure Trips, Conference Participation, and Peer Leadership. This strategy enhances STEM education among URMs by purposefully connecting and integrating knowledge and skills from across the STEM disciplines to solve real-world problems, by synthesizing and transferring knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, and by building critical thinking skills in a manner that is relevant to their experiences and yet transformative.

scholarly journals A Departmental Focus on High Impact Undergraduate Research Experiences

2013 ◽  
pp. 5-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin B. Kinnel ◽  
Adam W. Van Wynsberghe ◽  
Ian J. Rosenstein ◽  
Karen S. Brewer ◽  
Myriam Cotten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences

A Study of Mechanical Engineering Students’ Learning Outcomes During Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Pierrakos
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences

Undergraduate research experiences, which are highly promoted and supported by NSF and other agencies, present a great opportunity for our students to learn essential problem solving skills. The National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is one of the largest initiatives supporting active research participation by undergraduate students in all of the areas of research funded by NSF. The REU program, with more than 600 sites around the world, presently funds over 1000 active awards, totaling over $327 million. From these active REU awards, 384 (38% of the total active awards) are related to engineering (determined by having ‘engineering’ as a keyword in the title and abstract) and account for about $170 million, about half of the total amount of awards to date. In spite of such widespread support and belief in the value of undergraduate research, limited well-grounded research and evaluation studies exist [1]. Most of the existing literature reveals the predominance of program descriptions, explanation of models, and evaluation efforts, rather than studies grounded on research. Only recently have research and evaluation studies focused on assessing the benefits of undergraduate research [1–8]. Some of these benefits are (a) retention for underrepresented groups, (b) increased interest in the discipline, (c) gaining critical thinking skills, (d) increased self-confidence, and (e) clarification of career goals. Moreover, most of these studies on undergraduate research have focused on the sciences, whereas undergraduate research experiences in engineering have been understudied.

scholarly journals Fostering Undergraduate Research Experiences In Management Information Systems Through The Research Group Framework

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Ken Bartkus ◽  
Robert Mills ◽  
David Olsen
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Management Information Systems ◽  
Engaged Learning ◽  
Management Information ◽  
Think Tank ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Program

The purpose of this paper is to propose an innovative approach to engaged learning.  Founded on the principles of a scholarly think-tank and administered along the lines of a consulting organization, the proposed ‘Research Group’ framework is designed to facilitate effective and efficient undergraduate research experiences in Management Information Systems and other business areas.  In doing so, the program better prepares students for success in graduate school and their chosen careers.  In this paper, we introduce the research group framework and describe its four fundamental elements.  Examples of are then presented to illustrate both scholar-based and organization-based research experiences.  We conclude with a discussion on the challenges of developing a formal undergraduate research program.

scholarly journals Using Inter-institutional Collaboration to Generate Publishable Findings through Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 451-457
Author(s):  
Tanner Smith ◽  
E. Dale Broder ◽  
Robin M. Tinghitella ◽  
Spencer J. Ingley
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Research And Teaching ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
Integrated Research ◽  
Local Institution

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are high-impact practices that allow students to conduct research during class time. Benefits of a CURE can be maximized when integrated into a faculty member’s ongoing research. However, this can be particularly challenging for field biologists, especially when field sites are not situated near their university. Indeed, few existing CUREs are field based. One solution is to partner with a collaborator near the field site. We describe a semester-long CURE in an animal behavior class that involved collaboration among three institutions: researchers from two “distant” institutions have ongoing research at the “local” institution where the CURE took place. This model uses remote conferencing and strategic collaboration to meet all stakeholders’ needs. Undergraduate students engaged as active participants in collaborative inquiry-based work, learned in a cooperative context, and even participated in the publication process. The local principal investigator and their institution generated a high-impact course that integrated research and teaching. Likewise, the distant principal investigators were able to collect more extensive and longer-term field-based data than otherwise possible, and they gained valuable input from the local researchers that contributed to future projects. Remote collaborations open the door to international collaboration with smaller institutions, promoting greater inclusion in science.

scholarly journals 19. Evidence in Support of Removing Boundaries to Undergraduate Research Experiences

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Haave ◽  
Doris Audet
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Educational Practices ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Final Grade ◽  
Correlational Data ◽  
The Impact

Undergraduate research is one of several high impact educational practices used by educational institutions to increase student engagement and success (Kuh, 2008). Many studies on the impact of undergraduate research have surveyed students or faculty on their personal experience and its influence on students’ subsequent degrees and employment (Brownell & Swaner, 2010). These studies have documented the ability of high impact educational practices to have the greatest influence on those students who self-identify as belonging to a minority or disadvantaged group. Few studies, however, have documented the impact on students with lower grades.  The privilege of being admitted to an undergraduate research experience (e.g., an independent studies course) is typically reserved for upper-year students who have proven themselves academically. This paper presents correlational data from our campus showing that academically weaker students have a greater increase in academic performance between prior grade point average (GPA) and final grade in an independent studies course than academically stronger students. In addition, student annual GPA data shows that the impact of undergraduate research serves to raise student GPA in the year of an independent studies course. Although the findings are based on data from one small campus, they do raise the question that if undergraduate research has the greatest impact on academically weaker students and accelerates academic maturity, is limiting registration into these courses on the basis of superior GPA and years of study placing inappropriate boundaries on student learning?

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