Transcript National Association for Workforce Improvement

National Association for Workforce Improvement
Undergraduate Research: Discovering the Role of
Community Colleges
May 15th, 2008
Dr. Nancy Hensel, Executive Officer
Council on Undergraduate Research
National Science Foundation Grant #0603119
Two-Year Technician Education and Transfer Programs:
Tapping the Potential of Undergraduate Research
Objectives:
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Explore the current status of undergraduate research in two-year
programs;
Identify potential partners;
Develop resources; and
Propose a plan to establish new partnerships to broaden the
involvement of students in research.
Goals:
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Conduct regional conversations, hosted at community colleges to explore
issues related to undergraduate research and define what resources and
models are most appropriate and best suited to meet the needs of the faculty
and students at two-year institutions;
Identify faculty and administrators who will serve in leadership roles in
future activities;
Outline the issues that emerge from the regional conversations and develop a
publication on how to do undergraduate research in technician education
programs and at community colleges;
Develop a professional development institute for community college faculty
that addresses undergraduate research in technician education.
A Generally-Accepted Definition of
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Research is an inquiry or investigation conducted by
undergraduate that makes an original intellectual or creative
contribution to the discipline.
Statement developed at a CUR Dialogues workshop in 1997: Wenzel, T.J., “What
is Undergraduate Research?,” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly,
1997, 17, 163.
Undergraduate Research as an Effective
Pedagogical Tool
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Greater gains in learning – science/math/logic, problem solving,
literature/language/context mastery, and personal initiative and communication
skills.
Increased connection to and retention with the major.
Stronger enrollment in graduate education.
Increased employment in major-related fields.
Greater participation in other intellectual opportunities on campus.
Over coming tradition boundaries for women, students of color, and firstgeneration students.
“Learning Through Research.”
-CUR Tagline
Student Benefits of Undergraduate Research
Participation
• Disciplinary Learning Beyond Traditional Courses
– Learning laboratory techniques in depth;
– Extensive hands-on use of research-grade equipment;
– Seeing the relevance of classes – application of classroom
knowledge and laboratory skills in a research setting;
– Practicing experimental design;
– Significant use of the scientific language;
– Seeing first-hand how contributions to the scientific knowledge
base permit other scientists to build upon one’s efforts.
Student Benefits of Undergraduate Research
Participation
• Professional and personal growth in ways not possible through
traditional classroom and laboratory classes
– Understanding how scientists work;
– Gaining self-confidence;
– Learning how to work independently and collaboratively;
– Learning to tolerate obstacles and be prepared for challenges;
– Learning how to handle uncertainty and to work on problems
without clear solutions;
– Aid in deciding future pursuits.
Faculty Benefits of UR Participation
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Intellectual invigoration, increased enthusiasm, improved teaching;
Personal satisfaction working with undergraduates;
Advances in research program;
Effective means of staying current in one’s field.
Challenges of Undergraduate Research in
Community College
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Traditionally heavy teaching loads;
Institutional budgets for research;
Often inadequate laboratory space;
Collegial and institutional acceptance of research as part of
teaching/learning process;
• Students who often have full-time jobs or family responsibilities;
• Students not aware of benefits of undergraduate research and future
career opportunities.
What We Learned: Positive Outcomes
We have found out that there is a significant amount of undergraduate
research (UR) activities at community colleges. Representatives of 27
community colleges attended our conversations and shared examples
of:
• Incorporating research skills in the curriculum;
• Utilizing research activities in place of “cookbook” laboratories;
• Conducting applied research at the community college and in local
communities;
• Conducting basic research at the community college;
• Conducting basic research in university settings.
• The conversations helped develop and expand networks
among and between faculty and administrators from
community colleges, four-year institutions, and non-profit
organizations/business/industry.
• The conversations sparked interest in developing
additional research activities—in institutions that have not
fully incorporated the concept and for additional activities
among those who have previously engaged in UR.
• There is an interest in “more” UR research at community
colleges.
Rise of Undergraduate Research at
Community College
• Need to address STEM pipeline concerns;
• Need to diversify scientific workforce;
• More community college faculty with research interests and
backgrounds;
• Increase in students attending community colleges who wish to
transfer to four-year institutions;
• Increase in inquiry based education.
Examples of Undergraduate Research
• Applied Research: Agricultural Technology
• Business/College Partnerships
• Biotechnology Research
• Engineering Technology
Applied Research: Agricultural Technology
VESTA: Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology
Assistance
VESTA offers courses through distance education. Course content is industryvalidated and includes hands-on experiences at local wineries and vineyards.
Students conduct research on the chemical analysis of wines and provide the
information to growers and winemakers.
The program has contributed to economic development in the states involved in
the project: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Business/College Partnerships
Southwestern Community College and Ondax, Inc.
Mid-Infrared Spectral Characterization of Volume Holographic Gratings and Nonfabrication
of Optical Structures.
The National Science Foundation/Small Business Innovation Research Program funds the
project.
Research goals:
– To discover a correlation between optical properties and the structure of materials
at the atomic and molecular levels.
– To explore the fabrication of nano-structures within the materials that can be used
to control and manipulate the propagation of light.
Professor David Brown and his students hope that their research will lead
to replacing electricity with light in applications that are typically done
with silicon chips and other semiconductor materials.
Biotechnology Research
Raritan Valley Community College, North Branch, NJ
Situated in the midst of several major pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, Raritan Valley has developed high quality research experiences
through internships.
Up-to-date science laboratories support the preparation of highly skilled
technicians. Students learn laboratory and manufacturing practices, regulatory
issues, instrument validations, and lab notebook and record keeping skills.
Engineering Technology
Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, CA
New technologies are integrated into the curriculum: geographic information
systems (GIS), computer aided design and drafting (CADD) for civil
engineering and surveying, and global positioning systems (GPS).
The campus has developed a model curriculum through partnerships with industry
and incorporation of multimedia courseware.
How Does Undergraduate Research Support
Workforce Improvement
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Undergraduate research encourages students to ask “what if” and “why not”
questions;
Students learn how to methodically look for solutions and to analyze the
results;
Students learn how research can be applied to “real life” problems;
Students develop inquisitiveness and curiosity;
Research at community colleges can encourage students to take risks in their
projects that have the possibility of leading to future innovation.
Conclusions
• Community College students can do meaningful and
authentic research.
• Undergraduate research can have an impact beyond student
development and the campus.