Session 4: 2:55pm – 3:40pm (Choose 1 of 5)

Cloud-based Student Response Systems

Presented by Bruce Mason – PHSC 224

A new generation of student response systems is being launched, built upon past successes in engaged student learning using fingers, flash cards, scantrons, and clickers. These new, cloud-based, Bring-Your-Own-Device software services provide features and functions that expand the possibilities for student learning, particularly in large classrooms. Some of the new capabilities of these products include a wide range of new question types (drawing, matching, multiple choice, long answer, etc.), real-time student questions and feedback during class, and online student lecture notes. These systems also benefit from the fact that students don’t need to purchase one-use devices and are not likely to forget to bring their response systems to class. This session will provide a hands-on exploration of two or three of the recently developed system and a discussion of their pedagogical advantages and potential problems.

SHAREOK: Oklahoma Higher Ed’s Open Access Repository

Presented by David Corbly, Karen Rupp-Serrano, Logan Cox, and Kendall George – PHSC 201

SHAREOK (http://shareok.org) is a system designed to host faculty open access publications, dissertations, research, research data, special collections, and more. Come learn more about this new joint institutional repository shared by the University of Oklahoma Libraries and Oklahoma State University Libraries, and hosted on OU IT’s Shared Services Cloud in its new world-class data center. We will discuss the current state of the repository, what’s next, and engage in a conversation with you on how SHAREOK can further evolve to meet the needs of the OU academic community.

Webwork: An Online Homework System

Presented by Ravi Shankar – PHSC 212

In 1996, two mathematicians at Rochester developed an online HW system for basic mathematics courses at the level of Calculus. The program is open source (created using funding from the NSF) and freely available to anyone (go to http://webwork.maa.org for more information). The program creates a different HW set for each student based on various types of problems assigned by the instructor and Webwork also immediately grades each assignment with feedback. As such it provides a supplementary HW system where students develop the ability to compute well in mathematics. This presentation is an introduction to Webwork and how it can be used in a class.

Interactive Mindfulness Technology

Presented by Matthew Cook and Janet B. Croft – PHSC 222

The computers upon which contemporary scholars depend are rife with unfiltered information and suffer from a noticeable lack of body-centered content, which makes these digital tools a constant source of cognitive fatigue and diversion. One way to counteract the myriad stresses inherent in today’s computer-centric academic environment is by promoting certain mindfulness techniques which have been proven to mitigate the psychological & physiological damage associated with prolonged periods of computer use. To that end we have developed the Sparq Meditation Labyrinth (www.sparqlabyrinth.com).

With a touch-screen interface the Sparq user first selects from a variety of culturally significant (& aesthetically compelling) labyrinth designs, and then engages the projected pattern to evoke a non-judgemental awareness of the present moment (i.e. mindfulness). The available patterns range in origin from native America, to Ancient India, to medieval Europe and lend an important historical gravity to the experience. Engagement can take the form of yoga, dance, or a simple walk thru the pattern, which is projected on the floor of the space from overhead.

This session will detail the limitations of technology in the academic environment and present mindfulness tools – specifically, meditation labyrinths – as a solution. The session will reference numerous scientific studies to support this proposal and explore the extent to which other forward thinking organizations (including Google and Facebook) have begun to incorporate mindfulness training in corporate settings. Finally, we will present our own data, gathered during a month-long pilot Sparq study at the University of Oklahoma Libraries (beginning Nov. 17th).

HTML-based eBook for Engineering Solid Mechanics

Presented by Kurt Gramoll – PHSC 228

In an effort to promote students’ interest in engineering education and perhaps have a positive impact on the quality of education, a series of eBooks have been developed at the University of Oklahoma (www.eCourses.ou.edu). This presentation will take a look at the web-based eBook for Solid Mechanics, AME3143. The eBook is designed and developed such that it could be a just-in-time learning tool for students and engineers who would like to learn or review a specific topic in solid mechanics. The implementation of such an eBook in course delivery is particularly convenient for students at the University of Oklahoma since all engineering students have laptop computers with wireless network connection. It has also substantially reduce students’ education costs since it is free to OU students.

The solid mechanics eBook consists of over 30 modules. Each module is further divided into parts that include case introduction, theory, case solution, examples and simulation. A concerted effort has been invested in relating the theory to real world engineering applications through the case studies. Applications from different disciplines (e.g., daily experiences, mechanical, aerospace, and civil engineering applications) are included. The design approach of this eBook is to capture students’ interest by first presenting a case study. The theories and concepts necessary for the students to solve the specific case study are then covered, and followed by a complete solution for the case study.

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