Continuing Development of an Immersive Reality Tool for Learning Laryngeal Anatomy and Physiology

Jerry Moon, Department of Communication Science and Disorders, received $13,000. The specific learning objective of this project have not changed since our original application, and include an understanding of a) skeletal anatomy of the larynx, b) muscular anatomy of the larynx, c) influence of laryngeal muscle anatomy on laryngeal structures, and d) function of the larynx in generating sound during speech.

Based on these evaluations, four areas of attention have been identified and form the focus of this proposal: 

1. Improving user navigation through the vocal tract by implementing tissue boundaries, joystick control
2. Improving graphics to more realistically represent tissue walls, oral cavity anatomy, etc.,
3. Developing realistic animations representing vocal fold opening, closing, and vibratory patterns
4. Exploring the use of the smartphone as an alternate app platform, allowing for the ability to use the application without the need to be tethered to a desktop computer.

Personalized Online Learning in Pathology for Undergraduate Nursing Students

Andrea Achenbach and Sampada Mhatre, College of Nursing, received $25,000. Personalized or adaptive learning is an emerging area of educational technology. Traditional learning strategies fail to adapt to the individual needs of the student. Adaptive learning strategies and technologies can assist the instructor in meeting the specific learning needs of each student (Kellman, 2016).

We will develop a Personalized Active Case (PAC) based learning module delivered in the online learning management systems that creates flexible, effective, and student-centered learning.

Shaping watersheds using an Augmented Reality Sandbox

Emily Finzel, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, received $2,500. It is widely recognized that field, hands-on, or experience-based training is pedagogically essential for integrating knowledge in earth and environmental science, and it is crucial for employment in the hydrocarbon and environmental industries.

We propose to build an augmented reality sandbox. The sandbox uses 3D visualization applications and a hands-on sandbox to teach earth science concepts. This system would allow us to develop hands-on projects that teach geographic, geologic, and hydrologic concepts such as how to read a topographic map, the meaning of contour lines, watersheds, catchment areas, and levees

Remote and Virtual Labs for an Online Nanotechnology Course

Aju Jugessur, Department of Optical Science Technology Center, received $32,500. Hands-on labs’ schedules are not always flexible for many UI students, particularly, the medical and the life science students. More importantly, there are many colleges and universities in Iowa that do not have the expensive, state-of-the-art instrumentation in nanotechnology to enable them to offer this practical course.

This project will create and develop remote and virtual laboratory sessions for an online Nanotechnology undergraduate course that will enhance students’ learning in the micro- and nano-manufacturing area.

The Museum of Today and Tomorrow: Museums, Education, Technology

Kimberly Datshuk, Department of Teaching and Learning, received $2,500. The new course The Museum of Today and Tomorrow: Museums and Education in Fall 2017 will provide students with the ability to analyze modern and contemporary art and the tools to design lesson plans and interactive online content to incorporate art throughout the K-12 curriculum.

In the course, students will combine first-hand experience with the Lindquist Art Collection (LAC) in the College of Education and the University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) collection with the creation of eLearning modules to develop interactive online content for K-12 teachers using Adobe Captivate.