Instructional Technology
Conference 2007

Title: Collaboratively Building Innovative Instruction: Bringing High Performance Computing and Visualization Services to the Classroom.

Name: Kenneth Janz, Ph.D.; Ed Kinley, Ph.D.; Susan M. Simkowski, Ed.D.

Audience Level: all

Audience: faculty, presidents, provosts, deans, librarians, instructional technology specialists, lab directors, general

Length: 1 hour

Abstract:
The Center for Instruction, Research, and Technology (CIRT) at Indiana State University assists faculty in the integration of emerging and innovative technologies into instruction and research activities. This support ranges from High Performance Computing (HPC) to visualization services. CIRT also provides academic programming support to the University community. This presentation focuses on the collaboration with faculty to provide innovative instructional materials for the classrooms as well as building capacity for external grant submissions.

Description:
Over the last three years CIRT has collaborated with over 40 faculty on various projects. To demonstrate the multidisciplinary nature of the projects supported for faculty, six of the projects are described below. After the description of each project the project’s principal investigator (faculty member who is responsible for the content and commissioned the project is listed). The presentation would focus on the process used in the development of these various projects.

Child Art

CIRT has provided support for a project lead by Brad Venable in the Department of Art. This project focuses on how children’s drawings have been proposed as a window on their cognitive development. This unique Internet research tool, allows ongoing analyses of children’s drawings in order to identify the child’s current stage of development. (PI: Dr. Brad Venable)

Robotics Web Integration

The Robotics Web Integration project developed tools that allow robotic devices to be controlled remotely via the internet. Students working towards undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Integrated Manufacturing are provided with unique opportunities to create these integration tools and collaborate with faculty and students from other institutions involved in the consortium. (PI: Dr. J. Larry Heath)

Wet Process Lab

The purpose of this project was to develop an Internet based laboratory to be used in the master of science degree in electronics and computer Technology Program. This lab uses a state-of-the-art system to deliver lab experiences to graduate students enrolled in the program. The system uses hardware and software from National Instruments Corporation (NI). The lab is controlled remotely, by students, over the Internet. This allows students to complete a number of experiments from remote locations. The wet process trainer is composed of three tanks, two pumps, five discrete valves, and two continuous valves. Temperature transmitters and level transmitters are used to monitor each tank’s water level and temperature. Two pressure transmitters were installed to monitor the incoming flow pressure of tank one and tank two. A flow transmitter was installed to measure the incoming flow rate of the main tank. (PI: Dr. Gerald Cockrell)

GASPIPE: An SVD-based Gene and Species Phylogeny Inference Package

The goal of this project was to develop methods and resources to facilitate high level phylogenomics research at ISU. Phylogenomics involves large-scale comparative analyses of whole genomes (generally DNA or protein sequences) for precise estimations of species relatedness. Phylogenomic analysis generally results in the production of summary branching diagrams known as phylogenetic trees. The program that was created is used in undergraduate and graduate Life Science courses. (PI: Dr. Gary Stuart)

IV Insertion

The Intravenous Needle Insertion project is a multifaceted learning object project targeted at content delivery via the Web, Interactive Classrooms and Stereography. The correct way to insert an I-V needle is a difficult topic to illustrate due to the invisibility of the key biological elements involved. 3D technologies offer a different, more advanced illustration of the concepts from what is available. Content is also tailored to meet specific course/instructor requirements. (PI: Dr. Lucy White)

Handheld Database for Cramp Assessment

Under the direction of Marcus Stone, CIRT developed a database program for the Athletic Training Department on cramp assessment that can be used in a handheld computing environment. This system allows athletic trainers to electronically document cramp episode information. The data collected is currently being analyzed and incorporated into a research study.
(PI: Marcus Stone)

Session Type: Lecture/Presentation

Contact information/affiliation:
Kenneth Janz, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Instruction, Research, and Technology
Indiana State University
kjanz@indstate.edu
(812) 237-9632

Ed Kinley, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and CIO
Indiana State University
ed.kinley@indstate.edu
(812) 237-2100

Susan M. Simkowski, Ed.D.
Associate Director, Center for Instruction, Research, and Technology
Indiana State University
ssimkowski@indstate.edu
(812) 237-8554

Equipment: access to the internet