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Self-evaluation of the Introduction to Scientific Research course designed based on the Affinity Research Groups (ARG) model

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Conference

ASEE Zone 1 Conference - Spring 2023

Location

State College,, Pennsylvania

Publication Date

March 30, 2023

Start Date

March 30, 2023

End Date

April 12, 2023

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

9

DOI

10.18260/1-2--45064

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/45064

Download Count

121

Paper Authors

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Buket D Barkana University of Bridgeport

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Ioana A. Badara University of Bridgeport

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Ioana A. Badara holds a Ph.D. in Science Education from University of Tennessee-Knoxville, an M.Phil. in Immunology & Microbiology from University of Edinburgh in U.K., and a B.S. in Biochemistry from University of Bucharest in Romania. She is a Professor of Education and currently serves as Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in the Burke School for Public Service and Education at Post University.

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Navarun Gupta University of Bridgeport Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-8542-8310

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Dr. Navarun Gupta is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at University of Bridgeport. He also serves as the Department Chair there. Dr. Gupta received his Ph.D. from Florida International University in Miami. He has two master’s degrees –

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Junling Hu University of Bridgeport

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Dr. Junling Hu is a professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bridgeport. She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Her research areas include multiphysics modeling and simulation of manufacturing processes, multidisciplinary design optimization, numerical methods, thermal management of electronics and data centers.

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Ausit Mahmood University of Bridgeport

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Abstract

Our paper reports the self-evaluation of a research-based course taught in the School of Engineering at the University of Bridgeport. The University of Bridgeport received funding from the NSF HSI program in 2022. The project, called Project Achieve, aims to foster, engage and retain underserved and underrepresented undergraduate men and women, with particular emphasis given to Hispanic students in engineering (ENG) and computer science (CS) majors. As a part of the project, a multi-disciplinary effort among faculty in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering and computer science designed an undergraduate course, Introduction to Scientific Research, based on the evidence-based Affinity Research Group (ARG) model, one of the signature models in the CAHSI Network. This 2-credit yearlong course offers undergraduate engineering and computer science students an opportunity to participate in authentic research experiences with faculty and graduate students. It has two components as lecture and research activities. Students spend two to four hours per week working on research projects as a team. The course is cross-listed as CPEG/CPSC/ELEG/ MEEG 295A and 295B Introduction to Scientific Research Challenges. The course objectives are (1) To identify real-world problems and survey their broader impacts, (2) To brainstorm possible solutions to real-world research problems, (3) To apply the scientific method while solving a real-world research problem, (4) To develop basic laboratory skills and safety procedures relevant to the project, (5) To communicate scientific information in oral formats effectively, (6) To collaborate effectively with a team to solve a scientific problem. The paper presents the faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students' feedback and experiences as the preliminary outcomes while providing the details of the course design and its implementation in the engineering curricula.

Barkana, B. D., & Badara, I. A., & Gupta, N., & Hu, J., & Mahmood, A. (2023, March), Self-evaluation of the Introduction to Scientific Research course designed based on the Affinity Research Groups (ARG) model Paper presented at ASEE Zone 1 Conference - Spring 2023, State College,, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--45064

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