Multidisciplinary NanoScience Concentration Certificate Program at UTB: Activities and Lessons Learned

2013 ◽  
Vol 1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen S. Martirosyan

ABSTRACTThe development of a novel multidisciplinary Nanoscience Concentration Certificate Program (NCCP) at University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) is reported. The NCCP intended to prepare undergraduate students to emerging nanotechnology markets, industry trends, cutting edge research and technology developments. The rationale for the NCCP is to integrate and expand nanotechnology-relevant courses within a comprehensive curriculum. The established certificate program includes the following seven new upper level undergraduate courses: (i) Introduction to Nanoscience, (ii) Engineering of Nanomaterials, (iii) Nanofabrication and Nanoelectronics, (iv) Introduction to Bio-Nanotechnology, (v) Environmental Nanotechnology, (vi) NanoOptics, (vii) Capstone Design. This program is designed to address the needs for a multidisciplinary undergraduate education at the UTB, which extends beyond traditional courses within science and engineering disciplines. The designed courses will expose students to the nanotechnology areas as part of integration of nanoscience in UTB’s undergraduate programs. To complete the NCCP and receive a Certificate in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, students must complete 12 credit-hours of NCCP courses. Our ultimate goal is to establish and maintain at UTB a practical, modular, scalable, transferrable and implementable educational STEM platform in nano-sciences, engineering and nanotechnology. The goal of this paper is to examine an instructional technique for Introduction to Nanoscience course as an example for promoting student understanding of scientific concepts and explanations by using combines teaching learning activities and research oriented strategies.

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Laís Silveira Santos ◽  
Mauricio C. Serafim ◽  
Marcello Beckert Zappellini ◽  
Silvia Maria Knabben Corrêa Zappellini ◽  
Martha Kaschny Borges

The National Curricular Guidelines (DCN) of the undergraduate program in Public Administration bring the discussion and the teaching of ethics as a basic and indispensable disciplinary content to the education of the student. From this finding, the interest in knowing how its teaching occurs and assists the professional education of undergraduate students in Public Administration in Brazil emerged. For that, we developed a document research in the Pedagogical Projects of Courses (PPC) of the Public Field. Based on selection criteria, 15 PPC were included in the study. The undergraduate programs of the Public Field, guided by the republican and democratic ethos, should reproduce this fundamental principle in all teaching-learning processes and this was observed when analyzing the PPC, through the analysis categories of the curricular matrix, syllabuses of the courses and graduate profile. We verified that in most projects there is a search for the insertion of the discussion of ethical, critical and reflexive action both during the program and in the professional practice. Regarding ethics teaching, we believe that as the theme gains strength in the analysis of organizations, it might lead administrators to develop/adopt a more reflexive, critical and socially responsible position. 


Author(s):  
Amir Karimi

Course and Program Outcome assessment process at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is briefly discussed. It is explained how data were collected, analyzed, and used in the enhancement of the undergraduate programs. This paper describes the management of the assessment process. Lessons learned from assessment experience are described and how these assessment processes will be streamlined in the future are highlighted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-298
Author(s):  
Fábio da Costa Carbogim ◽  
Larissa Bertacchini de Oliveira ◽  
Melina Mafra Toledo ◽  
Flávia Batista Barbosa de Sá Diaz ◽  
Greicy Kelly Gouveia Dias Bittencourt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To present the experience of elaboration and implementation of the Active Teaching Model to Promote Critical Thinking (MEAPC), associated to Problem-Based Learning (PBL), for undergraduate students in Nursing. Method: Case report on the experience of the educational intervention (MEAPC + PBL) with undergraduate students in Nursing, in a 20-hour course on Basic Life Support (BLS). The MEAPC was validated by judges to guide the analysis of clinical cases. Critical Thinking (CT) skills were assessed using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test. Result: The educational intervention took place in two phases: elaboration and implementation, allowing not only the production of knowledge about BLS, but also the development of CT and exchange of experiences for teaching-learning. Conclusion: The association of the MEAPC to the PBL in the course of BLS organized the learning, gave opportunity to acquire knowledge and to stimulate the skills of the CT.


1990 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
R. Robert Robbins

The undergraduate program at the University of Texas has grown into the largest astronomy teaching program in the world, with some 7000 students per year (almost 20,000 credit hours). The department has 22.5 Ph.D.-level teaching faculty, about 45 graduate students, and about 40 pre-professional undergraduate majors. But most of the enrollment is in courses that satisfy the science requirements of students in liberal arts and non-technical majors. In 1985–86, 96.4 per cent of our undergraduate credit hours taught were in such classes. It is instructive to examine the historical reasons for our growth and its educational consequences, and to draw some conclusions from both for other programs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 375
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alabdulkarem ◽  
Mohammad Alhojailan ◽  
Saad Alabdulkarim

Academic success in undergraduate programs is indicative of potential achievements for graduates in their professional careers. The reasons for an outstanding performance are complex and influenced by several principles and factors. An example of this complexity is that success factors might change depending on the culture of students. The relationship of 32 factors with the reported academic performance (RAP) was investigated by using a survey distributed over four key universities in Saudi Arabia. A total of 3565 Saudi undergraduate students completed the survey. The examined factors included those related to upbringing, K-12 education, and structured and unstructured activities. Statistical results validate that many factors had a significant relationship with the RAP. Among those factors, paternal’s education level and work field, type of intermediate and high schools, and the attendance of prayers in mosques were significantly associated with the reported performance. This study provides important insights into the potential root causes of success so that they can be targeted by educators and policy makers in the effort to enhance education outcomes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Silva de Jesus ◽  
Edite Lago da Silva Sena ◽  
Luana Machado Andrade

OBJECTIVE: to describe the perception of lecturers and undergraduate nursing students regarding the dialogic experience in the informal spaces and its relationship with training in health.METHOD: experiential descriptions were collected in the context of a public university in the non-metropolitan region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, using open interviews. These descriptions were analyzed according to the principles of the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty.RESULTS: it was revealed that the informal spaces contribute significantly to the construction of knowledge and professional training strengthening teaching and promoting the re-signification of the subjects' experience.CONCLUSION: it is evidenced that the dialogic experience has relevancy for rethinking the teaching-learning process in the university, such that the informal spaces should be included and valued as producers of meanings for the personal and academic life of lecturers and students, with the ability to re-signify existence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabíola da Silva Albuquerque ◽  
Temilce Simões de Assis ◽  
Francisco Antônio de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Maria Regina de Freitas ◽  
Rita de Cássia da Silveira e Sá ◽  
...  

A group of teachers from Northeast Brazil developed a model of membrane potentials and action potential and tested the hypothesis that using the peer-instruction model would provide a better performance for students in reading traditional texts and lectures. The results were obtained from 357 students from 20 different courses in 9 different undergraduate programs. All students attended two 100-min theoretical lecture and, at the end of the second lecture, were asked to answer a multiple-choice question (a pretest). In the following lecture, students were divided into three groups: control, text, and model. At the end of the lecture, everyone responded to a posttest. Student performance in the pretest did not differ significantly between groups. In the comparison between the pretest and the posttest, students in the model and text groups significantly improved their performance, but there was no improvement in the control group. In the posttest, the model group presented a better performance than the control group. In the evaluation of the strategies used, 46% of the students indicated that the text would be very useful to remind them about the subject in the future, whereas 80% of those who used the model indicated that it would be very useful or extremely useful. useful. Although it was not possible to support the hypothesis conclusively, the performance model group, at least in part, was due to the use of active methodologies that constitute a differential in the teaching-learning process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 1279-1287
Author(s):  
Cleina de Fátima Carvalho ◽  
Maria Amélia Zanon Ponce ◽  
Reinaldo Antonio da Silva-Sobrinho ◽  
Roberto Della Rosa Mendez ◽  
Mariana Alvina dos Santos ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the knowledge about tuberculosis among nursing undergraduate students of a Federal Higher Education Institution. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with quantitative approach. Data were collected through a questionnaire based on the WHO’s guide to developing evaluation instruments on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to TB. Students were classified as “with knowledge” and “with little knowledge” based on the mean percentage of correct responses to the variables analyzed. Descriptive statistics techniques were used. Results: 60 nursing students were interviewed. “with little knowledge” was observed among students who were studying at the university for less time and who had no previous contact with the subject, and “with knowledge” was observed among those whose knowledge about tuberculosis was acquired in the health services. Conclusion: Knowledge gaps among undergraduate nursing students were identified, suggesting the need to rethink teaching-learning strategies on the subject.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
LaVelle Hendricks ◽  
Stephen Reysen ◽  
Zaidy Mohdzain ◽  
Kelly Martin ◽  
Joy Teles Oliveira ◽  
...  

Uncivil behavior has recently been a topic of concern within university campuses. Administration, faculty, and students are all subject to engage or experience uncivil conduct. Academic civility is a fundamental variable to establish a positive university environment and teaching-learning outcomes. Objective: The present paper analyzes the concept of civility and incivility within an academic context, offers a dimension perspective of the problem, reviews contributing factors associated with incivility, explores preventative measures for incivility, investigates academic strategies that promote civility, and makes recommendations for intervention strategies. A study that examines relationships between civility, university identification and satisfaction with the university was conducted. Methods: undergraduate students (N=588) from a state university answered a survey that evaluated three variables: civility, university identification, and university satisfaction. Results: Civility was positively related to university identification (r = .11, p = .009) and satisfaction (r = .16, p < .001), and identification was related to greater satisfaction with the university (r = .75, p < .001). Conclusion: Greater levels of civility are correlated with university identification and satisfaction. In order to improve teaching-learning environments, academic institutions are encouraged to promote an environment that is conducive to civility, as well as establish civil behaviors as part of their instruction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. E917-E935
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Kumjian ◽  
Kevin A. Bowley ◽  
Paul M. Markowski ◽  
Kelly Lombardo ◽  
Zachary J. Lebo ◽  
...  

Abstract An engaged scholarship project called “Snowflake Selfies” was developed and implemented in an upper-level undergraduate course at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). During the project, students conducted research on snow using low-cost, low-tech instrumentation that may be readily implemented broadly and scaled as needed, particularly at institutions with limited resources. During intensive observing periods (IOPs), students measured snowfall accumulations, snow-to-liquid ratios, and took microscopic photographs of snow using their smartphones. These observations were placed in meteorological context using radar observations and thermodynamic soundings, helping to reinforce concepts from atmospheric thermodynamics, cloud physics, radar, and mesoscale meteorology courses. Students also prepared a term paper and presentation using their datasets/photographs to hone communication skills. Examples from IOPs are presented. The Snowflake Selfies project was well received by undergraduate students as part of the writing-intensive course at Penn State. Responses to survey questions highlight the project’s effectiveness at engaging students and increasing their enthusiasm for the semester-long project. The natural link to social media broadened engagement to the community level. Given the successes at Penn State, we encourage Snowflake Selfies or similar projects to be adapted or implemented at other institutions.


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