Awarded Grant: $15,000 Principal Investigator: Mark A. Bremer, SUNYIT Sustainable energy, such as wind and solar, can contribute significantly to meet the energy demand of New York State. Implementing sustainable energy will require the development of technology as well as public understanding and acceptance of sustainable systems. Therefore, integration of sustainability education into SUNY programs as well as providing opportunities for K-12 students to see and interact with sustainable energy is crucial. The innovation of this project emphasizes the integration of a recently developed IITGrant virtual technical tool with real system learning tools including a portable, reusable solar/wind power plant to address sustainability issues. The objectives of this project are to create an integrated combination of sustainability related virtual – real activities/exercises that would be appropriate to 1) support undergraduate sustainability and alternative energy related courses, 2) support SUNYIT K-12 outreach programs both on and off campus, and 3) address teaching high risk young people. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Philip Hofmeyer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Renewable Energy Training Center, Morrisville State College Ibrahim Yucel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Information Sciences and Technology , SUNYIT Christopher Urban, Lecturer, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems (CIS) Technology, SUNYIT Kenneth T Waight III, Ph.D., Senior Scientist/ Director of Atmospheric Modeling, MESO Inc. Xinchao Wei, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Civil/Environmental Engineering, SUNYIT Glenn E. Van Knowe, Ph.D., Adjunct Lecturer, Electrical Engineering Technology, SUNYIT Robert Keesee, Ph.D., Associate Professor Atmospheric Chemistry, University at Albany Brian Hong-An Tang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Atmospheric Science, University at Albany Elizabeth Rossi, K-12 Outreach Director, SUNYIT Suzanne Tulino, Director, Taberg Residential Center for Girls, New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Reports and Resources: Final report Project website with links to virtual exercises, minutes of calls/meetings, work plans, collaborator info “Green Home Energy Builder” virtual game Press release CIT 2014 presentation Mid-project report Project update Project outcomes report Project outcomes report 2.0 Creative Commons License:   

We seek to develop an integrated web-based tool to aid students and external stakeholders to access information about the identification and use of woody plants in the landscape. We have developed a searchable database for woody plants; however, recent changes in technology would enable us to make this more widely accessible, including better graphic representation and searchable options while adding more in-depth information and enhancing the learning experience. The online database will be freely available to other SUNY campuses to use in their curricula. The grant also provides an opportunity to pilot and explore the potential for expanding the location-based data to other SUNY campuses. An example of future capabilities might include a scenario where plants will be geographically referenced with GPS and mapped using open source GIS software. Moreover, we will enable the database to be accessed on smart phones and tablets so that it has real field application.

The goal of this project is to pilot the Tools of Engagement Project’s (TOEP) on-demand professional development model among faculty across SUNY campuses, investigating its effectiveness in expanding their pedagogy as they integrate free online Web 2.0 tools into their courses and research. Evolving instructional technologies are changing the ways we collaborate and communicate. Faculty must learn to adapt to this rapidly changing landscape. TOEP’s self-directed professional development gives faculty a platform to experiment with cutting-edge technologies, integrating them into their curricula to engage students and improve learning. Self-directed activities encourage faculty to be lifelong learners, as they become familiar with blogging, wikis, podcasting, online collaborative, and the latest web-based instructional technology tools. After acquiring deeper knowledge about how to use these tools, faculty will become more adept at embedding 21st century skills into their teaching and meeting the expectations of their students. They will also be able to use these tools to diversify assessment of student learning, going beyond traditional strategies.

As Fredonia continues to expand its offerings of blended and online courses, and with the adoption of the flipped classroom model, the need to create and share quality online audio and video recording has grown. In addition, SUNY’s initiative to create an Open SUNY will require more faculty to participate in multimedia creation. This grant will build a single Multimedia Recording Suite with the modern technology needed to create quality recordings. These recordings will be shared privately with students through our LMS and publicly in SUNY Fredonia’s instance of iTunes U, YouTube and department blogs. The recordings will include tutorials and lectures created by the Professional Development Center as well as campus faculty on a wide range of topics related to teaching, learning and technical skills.