Developing a Tech Hub to Promote the Use of Geographic Information System Technology across SUNY

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Principal Investigator: Mary Perrelli, Buffalo State Geographic Information Systems are an important emerging technology with broad application across many disciplines. SUNY has a site wide license for ESRI software, the leader in GIS technology, however these resources are currently underutilized. This project will develop a GIS Tech Hub to leverage shareable resources across campus, foster intellectual collaborations, integrate emerging technologies, and provide research support and training to students, faculty and local professionals. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Wende Mix, Associate Professor, School of Natural and Social Sciences, Geography and Planning Department, Buffalo State Kelly M. Frothingham, Chair and Associate Professor, School of Natural and Social Sciences, Geography and Planning Department, Buffalo State Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Ecology and Earth Science Virtual Field Experiences OERs: Expanding Access to Field-Based Research Techniques for Students at a Distance

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Principal Investigator: Nathan Whitley-Grassi, Empire State College We propose to develop and share six ecology/earth science virtual field experiences as OERs, based on the need to develop resources and expand access to scientific field-based research techniques for students learning at a distance or with other barriers to access. The OERs will consist of a series of broad and adaptable field activities supplemented with handouts and videos from the field site to provide immersion online. Our goal is to provide students with research skills needed to increase competency in the field after graduation by engaging them in common research techniques and methods for data collection and analysis. In an effort to ensure quality, each OER will be reviewed and examined for quality and accessibility. Importantly, these OERs will be part of the larger SUNY community as a resource in an online repository in the SUNY Learning Commons (SLC) that could be utilized by future Open SUNY programs. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Audeliz Matias, Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator in Science, Center for Distance Learning, Empire State College Kevin Woo, Assistant Professor and Faculty Chair, Empire State Colleges Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Online Initiative to Foster and Research Writing-Skills Transfer Across the Curriculum and Beyond

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Principal Investigator: Peter Khost, Stony Brook University Funding is sought to build, pilot, revise, implement, and assess an online pedagogical and data-collection instrument and instructional video for any writing program in the SUNY system, including Open SUNY. This tool promotes the transfer of skills and knowledge from required first-year writing (FYW) classes to courses across the curriculum and beyond graduation, which research shows neither typically nor sufficiently occurs. The proposed instrument employs freeware to offer locally-adaptable templates and a system of ongoing personalized alerts for fostering the key element to successful writing transfer, metacognition: awareness of one’s own knowledge and learning needs and styles. The online instrument also simultaneously provides host departments with rare and valuable information about effects of their curriculum. No such tool for encouraging and studying students’ writing transfer beyond FYW is known to exist, and this one sustains itself indefinitely without cost after its creation. The PI also proposes to present, run workshops, and publish about this initiative. Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Creating Situated Learning Environments through Mobile Device Management (MDM)

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Principal Investigator: Ken Fujiuchi, Buffalo State Situated learning is learning that takes place in the same context in which it is applied. Situated learning is a highly effective form of active learning where students are creating meaning (and learning) out of distinct combinations of content, context, practice, and participation. For our project, we will put together a proof of concept to support the academic situations of students through MDM. Our pilot group will be student teachers completing an edTPA pre-service assessment process in order to become certified teachers. We will integrate a MDM system to manage and customize mobile devices to the needs of the student teachers, and control the deployment of software and technology based on their needs. We will also integrate a concierge service to provide an interpersonal support system through the mobile devices. This case study will allow us to see how we can leverage MDM systems to support individual academic achievement. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Andrew B. Chambers, Information Commons Technology Administrator, E. H. Butler Library, Buffalo State Reports and Resources: Final report Brief description of the pilot projects Mid-project report Creative Commons License: