Month: January 2016

MTTI Driving Research Seminar Series

MTTI DrivingA new “MTTI Driving Research Seminar Series” is being launched as an activity of the Exploring Next Generation IN-vehicle INterfaces (ENGIN) project supported by Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI).

This seminar series will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month in room 109 of the Harold Meese Center.

The title of the first talk by Shabnam is “The Effects of Google Glass on Driving Behavior.” This work has been done in the Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) under advice of Robert Pastel (CS).

In addition to the presentation, we will discuss and share ideas for research projects and proposals together. All faculty, students and staff who are interested in driving research are welcome.

The tentative list of presenters for this spring semester includes:

Tuesday, February 2 — Maryam “Shabnam” FahrHosseini (CLS/HIDE Enterprise)
Tuesday, March 1 — Mehdi Jafari (ECE)
Tuesday, April 5 — Ye “Sarah” Sun (MEEM)
Tuesday, May 3 — David Nelson (CEE/MTTI/RTP)

We will discuss various topics, such as Human Factors issues-distraction, stress and fatigue, emotions, electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles, sensors, grade crossing and naturalistic driving research. Refreshments will be provided.

If you have any questions about the seminar or want to present, contact Philart Jeon.

From Tech Today, by Myounghoon Philart Jeon (CLS/CS).

Mi-STAR and the NEW Michigan Science Standards

Geoseminar: Jacqueline Huntoon, Provost
The next Geoseminar will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2016, in 610 Dow. The discussion topic will be “Mi-STAR and the NEW Michigan Science Standards.”

Anyone who is interested in working with K-12 science educators needs to be familiar with some of the major changes taking place as a result of development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In Michigan, new Michigan Science Standards, which are based on the NGSS, were adopted in the fall of 2015. Currently, the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Science Teachers Association, teachers and teacher-educators are working together to prepare for implementation of a reformed curriculum and new instructional practices in our state.

In the past, science standards focused primarily on disciplinary content. In contrast, the new standards ask for teachers to help students become proficient in doing science, as opposed to simply learning about it. This change requires wholescale reform of curriculum and instructional practice. The Mi-STAR project, funded by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, is working with teachers from throughout the state of Michigan to enact the needed reforms. Preliminary research and evaluation results indicate that the new standards and teaching methods are engaging students in science who were previously uninterested in the subject.

This presentation will include a brief overview of the NGSS and the Mi-STAR project along with the opportunity for everyone to try to come up with an idea for a “three-dimensional” learning opportunity for middle-school students. Come prepared to work with a partner or group to begin to create something meaningful and fun.

From Tech Today, by Bill Rose, GMES.

Hands on: Students do science, not just learn facts

HOUGHTON – When Michigan Tech researchers proposed and won funding for the new MiSTAR science curriculum development project, they were facing some challenging new state standards, according to principal investigator Jackie Huntoon.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Dan Roblee. (Subscription required.)

L’Anse students pilot hands-on science lessons

L’ANSE, Mich. (AP) – Students in L’Anse are taking part in new hands-on science units being piloted this year in the state.

Read more at 9 and 10 News.

Houghton County Cardboard Recycling Kickoff and Celebration

The Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach is among the organizers of a celebration to open the Houghton County Cardboard Recycling Facility.

The celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2016, at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton.

There’ll be hands-on activities for kids, including making paper, garbage pizzas, recycling machine, cardboard forts, lunch safari and more.

A display and information on the cardboard recycling facility, upcoming plans for how to improve curbside recycling in Houghton County and information on how you can get involved will be available.

Bring your cardboard to the Portage Lake District Library during the celebration and it will be transported to the new Cardboard Recycling Facility in Atlantic Mine.

From Tech Today.