Month: March 2013

Technology and Teaching During Spring Break

Tech Silicon Valley Innovation GalleryAlt “Spring” Break

One of the student groups ventured to Silicon Valley, where they visited high-tech giants, including Brocade Communications and their board chairman Dave House ’65.

The students also visited Autodesk, Google, Cisco, Kyocera, and Tesla, some of which employ Michigan Tech alumni. Students learned about the technology of these cutting-edge corporations, career paths in Silicon Valley, and successful business strategies.

Krista Anderson, a psychology major from Kingsford, agreed. “Being able to be part of this experience definitely reassured me that I want to work for a high-tech company someday.”

“The evening was a great success with over 130 parents and children!” said Joy Reynolds, science teacher at Ludington Magnet Middle School. Clippert Academy Middle School had similar numbers. Science teacher Tracy Ortiz said that they had nearly 100 students attending, plus their parents, at Family Engineering Night.

“This is a great way to increase diversity on our campus, but more importantly, to have students who can relate to these kids and show them that a college education and a career in STEM is possible for them,” said Joan Chadde, education/outreach coordinator for the Western UP Center for Science, Math, and Environmental Education, who accompanied the students.

Read more at TechAlum Newsletter, by Dennis Walikainen.

Spring Break: A Chance to Explore, Learn, Inspire Others

The Tech students held Family Engineering Nights at schools. These events are designed to involve the entire family in games that introduce participants to engineering and scientific principles in a fun and engaging way.

Seeing how excited the kids were by the activities inspired Niekeiya Williams. “This trip was a chance to do something rewarding,” she says. “It really reaffirmed my decision to further my education.”

Read more at Tech Today, by Travis Gendron.

Alice Stuhlmacher Visits April 1-3

Alice StuhlmacherAs part of Michigan Technological University’s Visiting Women and Minority Lecturer/Scholar Series, the School of Business and Economics will welcome Alice Stuhlmacher to campus April 1st – 3rd, 2013. During the visit, Stuhlmacher will visit classes in the School of Business and Economics as well as the department of Cognitive Learning Sciences. Faculty and student groups will participate in presentations and round table discussions throughout the visit.

Read more at the School of Business and Economics News, by Lynn Makela.

Stuhlmacher Presenting for VWMLS Series

Alice F. Stuhlmacher is a professor of psychology at DePaul University. Her research interests include negotiation and conflict in organizations, particularly relating to gender, labor mediators, and virtual communication. She has been active in applying meta-analyses to summarize existing research and has also published research relating to personality, workplace safety, and decision making.

Read more at Tech Today.

Ethical Decision Making

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host Dr. Adam Feltz on Thursday, March 28th, 2:05 – 2:55 in Rekhi G06. Dr. Feltz will provide a Research Presentation: “Ethical Decision Making”.

Dr. Feltz, who earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Florida State University in 2008, is currently an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies at Schreiner University. Connecting philosophical beliefs and real-world problems Dr. Feltz’s research aims to construct ethical decision support that is intimately linked to ancient questions regarding what it is to be rational, moral, and human.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Susan Amato-Henderson at slamato@mtu.edu.

Hypothesis Generation: Temporal Dynamics and Hypothesis Guided Visual Search

Research Presentation Being Hosted by Cognitive and Learning Sciences

Nicholas Lange will be presenting, “Hypothesis Generation: Temporal Dynamics and Hypothesis Guided Visual Search,” at 2:05 p.m., Monday, March 25, Rekhi G06.

Lange, who earned his PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oklahoma, currently holds a dual appointment as a Postdoc Associate Research Fellow at Birkbeck College (University of London) and as a Postdoc Fellow at the University of Oklahoma. His research investigates the underlying role that memory systems play in supporting high-level cognitive tasks such as, judgment and decision making, with a focus on the role of hypothesis generation.

From Tech Today.

Peace Corps Informational Meeting Thursday

Brett Heimann, the regional recruiting representative for the Peace Corps, will hold an informational meeting at Michigan Tech at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 21, in Fisher Hall 125. He will talk about the Peace Corps overall and the Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) program. The session is free, and everyone is welcome.

Michigan Tech has eight PCMI programs in four different Colleges and Schools. Graduate students earn a master’s degree with a combination of classes and Peace Corps service overseas. For more information, contact PCMI campus director Kari Henquinet (SS), kbhenqui@mtu.edu, 7-1843.

From Tech Today.

STEM Outreach During Spring Break

ChicagoIt’s Not Your Typical Spring Break

A group of 40 students will get a taste of city life as they head to Chicago on a trip organized by International Programs and Services (IPS).

“The goal is to show these kids that college is attainable by having them talk with students who share some of their experiences and have done it,” said Joan Chadde, education program coordinator for the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Tech.

“This is a great way to increase diversity on our campus, but more importantly, to have students who can relate to these kids and show them that a college education and a career in STEM is possible for them,” said Chadde.

Read more at Tech Today, by Travis Gendron.

Proposals in Progress February 27, 2013

Dept. Chair Brad Baltensperger (CLS) and Spec. Assistant to President Chris Anderson (OID), “Partnership to Build the STEM Teacher Workforce,” NASA

Associate Provost/Dean Jacqueline Huntoon (Grad. School), Department Chair Brad Baltensperger (CLS) and Senior Research Engineer Christopher Wojick (Civil), “Next Generation MiTEP: Michigan Teacher Excellence Program for the 21st Century,” NSF

Associate Dean of Engineering Leonard Bohmann (COE), Dir. Center Pre-College Stephen Patchin, Coord. Education Program Joan Schumaker Chadde (Civil) and Associate Professor Kurtis Paterson (Civil), “Full-Scale Development: Mind Trekkers Science and Engineering Festivals,” NSF