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3rd Annual
Excellence in Research and Creativity Conference Schedule
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April 11, 2008
Library Conference Center 105 A, B, C
Indiana University Northwest |
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Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Internship Poster Preview
Library Conference Center Lobby |
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Opening Remarks
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Panel I
- Computer Availability and Use in Early Childhood Centers
Judy Donovan, Ed.D., School of Education
Internship Recipients: Kelly Elsey, Krystal Harrington
A random sample of early childhood centers was surveyed to determine availability and use of computers with children. Results were analyzed to determine answers to questions such as, "Is income level of families related to number of computers in a center?" "Are gender differences apparent in children's software preferences?" "Is the Internet available for children's use?" and "How are computers used with children?"
- Improving Students’ Retention in M118 Finite Mathematics
Bogdan Vajiac, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science
Vesna Kilibarda, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science
Henry Wyzinski, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science
Mary Beth Mitchell, M.A., Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science
Internship Recipients: Nick Dres, Cindy Faryniak, Kristine Feitshans, Brittany Leverett
This work addressed the need to improve students’ achievements in M118 Finite Math classes in the Math Department at Indiana University Northwest. We implemented different components, such as specialized tutors, gateway tests, and a math anxiety test. We analyzed the effect of various factors on students' performance.
- Student Internship Program in Biomedical Research
Carl Marfurt, Ph.D., Northwest Center for Medical Education
Internship Recipients: Jeremiah Cox, Daniel Grabarek, Harpreet Khalsa, Cicely Moreno, John Torabi
This internship program is designed to provide undergraduate college students with opportunities to perform biomedical research with Indiana University School of Medicine faculty mentors. Through these laboratory experiences, we seek to increase student preparedness and enthusiasm for career opportunities in medicine and other health care professions.
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Student Presentation from the College of Arts and Sciences Research Conference
Lori Montalbano, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Dorothy Ige, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
This presentation showcases the research of a student from the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) as presented at the Fourth Annual Indiana University Northwest College of Arts and Sciences Research Conference in 2007. Student participation is an integral and valued component of the COAS Conference each year at Indiana University Northwest.
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Break |
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Panel II
- A Preliminary Feasibility Study to Build Regional Infrastructure in Lake County Region
Ranjan Kini, Ph.D., School of Business and Economics
Richard Hug, Ph.D., School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Internship Recipients: David Bulow
One of the key recommendations from the Good Government Initiative ICT committee of Lake County is to build a Regional ICT Infrastructure. This study focuses on conducting a preliminary feasibility study of existing infrastructure by interviewing ICT executives of twenty Lake County towns. Researchers will present opportunities, problems, and concerns expressed by ICT executives at this Conference.
- Using Equitable Development to Manage the Revitalization of Gary, Indiana
Earl Jones, Ph.D., Department of Minority Studies
Internship Recipients: NaJeana Brown
The Historic Midtown Project of the Department of Minority Studies, the City of Gary and the Gary, Hammond, East Chicago Empowerment Zone (the Local Host Committee) entered a competition among major American cities and planning departments of local universities to host the Bi Annual Conference of the American Planning Association, Planning and the Black Community Division. In a refereed competition our proposal to host the National Conference in Gary at Indiana University Northwest and at the Genesis Center was selected as the preferred site. We competed against Atlanta, Ga., Orlando, Fl, Newport News, Va., Washington, D.C., and Dallas, Texas. This presentation will discuss equitable development as a general strategy for revitalization and involvement of Gary’s youth in the revitalization process.
- Hawthorn Ceramic Mural Project
Derek Walter, M.F.A., Department of Fine Arts
Internship Recipients: Jeremy Boyer
This mural is inspired by the topography of northwest Indiana. The layout is influenced by topographical maps depicting land, water, rail lines, roads and industry. The clay is blended here at Indiana University Northwest with iron oxide from the steel mills and dune sand. The glazes are made here at Indiana University Northwest by students, with some of the recipes coming directly from the students.
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Break |
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Internship Panel & Awards Ceremony
Chioma Anokwute, Biology Department, and Department of Sociology and Anthropology
NaJeana Brown, Department of Minority Studies
David Bulow, School of Business and Economics
Jeremy Boyer, Department of Fine Arts
Jeremiah Cox, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy
Daniel Grabarek, Biology Department
Krystal Harrington,
School of Education
Harpreet Khalsa, Biology Department
Mitchell Lenyo, General Studies
Cicely Moreno, Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy
John Torabi, Department of Psychology
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Lunch |
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Internship Poster Session
Library Conference Center Lobby |
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Panel III
- The Use of Geographic Information System in secondary Social Studies classrooms in Indiana
Younghee Suh, Ph.D., School of Education
Judy Donovan, Ed.D., School of Education
Tim Sutherland, M.A., Library
Cecile Morris, B.S., Library
Internship Recipients: Kelly Elsey
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for collecting, managing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information, including Google Earth and MapQuest. This presentation reports results from two GIS professional development workshops offered to in-service secondary Social Studies teachers in northwest Indiana at the Indiana University Northwest Library in spring 2007.
- Service Learning in the Communication Classroom: Take Action Vote Smart
Taylor Lake, Ph.D., Department of Communication
Internship Recipients: Mitchell Lenyo
During the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters students in Dr. Lake's Public Speaking, Radio Production, Practicum in Media Production and Mass Communication Theory and Criticism courses produced educational programs about issues, candidates in the 2008 elections and the importance of voting. This presentation outlines the service-learning project Take Action Vote Smart at Indiana University Northwest and examines the valuable role that service-learning plays in the communication course when community and civic engagement become central to course content and service.
- The Founding of a Service Learning Consortium
Charlotte Reed, Ed.D., Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Internship Recipients: Tiffney Smith
This session will describe the process and products of founding a consortium of colleges and universities to improve the delivery of service program in northwest Indiana. The challenges and triumphs will be shared. Participants can expect a frank discussion of this exciting project and advice for future collaborations.
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Break
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Panel IV
- Bittersweet: Analyzing the Chemical Difference between two Plant Species
Julie Peller, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy
Internship Recipients: Aditya Shah, Jennifer Susoreny-Velgos
The invasive Oriental Bittersweet plant is displacing vegetation in many ecological settings such as the Indiana Dunes. Chemical analyses of the invasive and natural Bittersweet leaves reveal differences in the chemical make-up which may offer an advantage to the invasive species. Auxiliary compounds were detected in the invasive species and efforts are underway to identify these components.
- Investigating Alternative Approaches to Multi-Layer Health and Social Service Delivery
Subir Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., School of Business and Economics
Manoj Pardasani, Ph.D., Division of Social Work
Marianne Kirkish, Ph.D., Northwest Center for Medical Education
Internship Recipients: Chioma Anokwute
Many service providers in the for-profit industries (e.g., banks and insurance companies) as well as non-profit industries (e.g., social service agencies and hospitals) appreciate cross-cultural differences between ethnic groups, and make appropriate changes to their marketing strategy. It is more challenging when multiple-layers (i.e., two or more) of service must be simultaneously delivered. A typical example of such a service-delivery scenario is the health services provided by a physician, a social worker, and a nurse.
We review the extant literature thoroughly, and outline alternative approaches in delivering quality service to the patient.
- Investigating Quality Perceptions of Health and Social Service for Different Ethnic Groups in Northwest Indiana
Subir Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., School of Business and Economics
Manoj Pardasani, Ph.D., Division of Social Work
Internship Recipients: Chioma Anokwute
A common complaint of some ethnic groups is that many products and services are not designed to cater to their specific needs. While there are several reasons for this apparent ignorance, one often-cited reason is the lack of cultural appreciation that ethnic groups differ from the Whites and one another in terms of their product and service usage and media habits. In this study, we conduct a survey to compare and contrast the service quality perceptions of three ethnic groups, Blacks, Hispanics, and the majority White population in northwest Indiana.
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Break
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Learning Together: An Introduction to Collaborative Research for Communities and Scholars
Josh Ostergaard, M.A., Urban Anthropologist, Research and Publications Center for Cultural Understanding and Change Division of Environment, Culture and Conservation, The Field Museum
The Center for Cultural Understanding and Change (CCUC) at The Field Museum has extensive experience collaborating with community organizations around both public programming and research projects. This presentation will provide an overview of the Center’s collaborative work, with an emphasis on their participatory action research (PAR) model. This seven-step research model was developed through a series of collaborative workshops the Center held in 2006, where the “best practices” of over 40 scholars and community organizations were discussed. The presentation will also include examples of collaborations from CCUC’s work and important “lessons learned” that can strengthen partnerships.
Since joining the Center for Cultural Understanding and Change in 2001, Josh Ostergaard has had a wide variety of research experiences, including projects on the artistic, cultural and social network assets of recent Mexican immigrants in Chicago and the Center’s current project, New Allies for Nature and Culture. His experience with community-based research, including the Center’s Urban Research and Curriculum Transformation Institute, which concluded in 2004, and through the series of workshops in 2006 which informed his writing of the Center’s book on the topic, Collaborative Research: A Practical Introduction to Participatory Action Research (PAR) for Communities and Scholars.
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Closing Remarks
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