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Rich Learning Experiences For Minority Undergraduate Students Through Inquiry Based Project Activities In The Field And Laboratory Settings

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Conference

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii

Publication Date

June 24, 2007

Start Date

June 24, 2007

End Date

June 27, 2007

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Research Infrastructure in STEM Disciplines

Tagged Division

Minorities in Engineering

Page Count

11

Page Numbers

12.1249.1 - 12.1249.11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--2798

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/2798

Download Count

394

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Paper Authors

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Abhijit Nagchaudhuri University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Abhijit Nagchaudhuri is currently a Professor in the Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Dr. Nagchaudhuri is a member of ASME, SME and ASEE professional societies and is actively involved in teaching and research in the fields of engineering mechanics, remote sensing and precision agriculture, robotics, systems and control and design of mechanical and mechatronic systems. Dr. Nagchaudhuri received his bachelors degree from Jadavpur University in Calcutta, India with a honors in Mechanical Engineering in 1983, thereafter, he worked in a multinational industry for 4 years before joining Tulane University as a graduate student in the fall of 1987. He received his M.S. degree from Tulane University in 1989 and Ph.D. degree from Duke University in 1992.

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Madhumi Mitra University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Madhumi Mitra is currently an Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She is also the Coordinator of the Biology Education program at UMES. Dr. Mitra obtained her Ph.D. degree in 2002 from the Department of Botany at North Carolina State University. She is actively involved in research in the fields of marine biology, environmental science and paleopalynology.

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Rose Stoakley University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Ms. Stoakley is a junior in the Mathematics program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the Department of Mathemtics and Computer Sciences.

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Tiara Turner University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Ms. Turner is a junior in the Mathematics program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences.

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Suraf Cherinet University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Mr. Cherinet is a undergraduate student in the Aviation Science Program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

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Gabriel Ladd University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Gabriel Ladd is a graduate student in the University System of Maryland's system wide Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science(MEES) graduate program at UMES.

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Harsha Chalyam University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Harsha Chalyam is a graduate student in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at University of Maryland Eastern Shore

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Christopher Hartman University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Mr. Hartman is a lecturer in the Aviation Science program in the Department of Engineering and Aviation Science at University of Maryland Eastern Shore

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James B. Burrows-Mcelwain University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

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Mr. James B. Burrows-Mcelwain is a lecturer in the Aviation Program in the Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences. Mr. Mcelwain also serves as the Coordinator for the Aviation Program.

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Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Rich Learning Experiences for Minority Undergraduate Students thru Inquiry Based Project Activities in the Field and Laboratory Settings

Abstract

With support from HBCU-UP (Historically Black College and University Undergraduate Program) at National Science Foundation (NSF), the ACTION (Advanced Curriculum and Technology-Based Instructional Opportunities Network) program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is promoting inquiry based active learning and research projects among undergraduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors. Field based experiential learning efforts titled (i) AIRSPACES: Aerial Imaging and Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship and (ii) ECPA: Environmentally Conscious Precision Agriculture, provided a perfect setting for STEM undergraduates to interact with UMES farm personnel, graduate students, NASA and USDA researchers collaborating with the faculty members in the project. In the summer of 2006 ACTION program supported three undergraduate students to work with the principal author to work on a chosen aspect of the ongoing effort. For this ACTION project students decided to focus on aspects of yield monitoring and remote sensing for the precision agriculture project at UMES. This paper will highlight the student efforts related to the ACTION project for 2006 summer and discuss how the out of classroom, field, and laboratory based activities enhanced learning.

1. Introduction Undergraduate research projects offer students with opportunities that provide motivation for them to learn and refine their knowledge independently in the same vein as a research scientist or engineer,[1] increases student participation in interdisciplinary, authentic problem solving,[2] and help universities move from teaching oriented to learning centered.[3] Undergraduate research is a way of focusing, guiding and enhancing the undergraduate experience, rather than just a preparation for graduate school. It also provides a major opportunity to demonstrate to accreditation agencies and other organizations that students are performing at enhanced levels. [4] A substantial number of universities have begun to realize that undergraduate research is a real asset, thus they are identifying more resources and expanding opportunities to involve more students [5] . The work reported in this paper is based on the efforts devoted by three undergraduate

Nagchaudhuri, A., & Mitra, M., & Stoakley, R., & Turner, T., & Cherinet, S., & Ladd, G., & Chalyam, H., & Hartman, C., & Burrows-Mcelwain, J. B. (2007, June), Rich Learning Experiences For Minority Undergraduate Students Through Inquiry Based Project Activities In The Field And Laboratory Settings Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--2798

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