mentoring minority undergrads in...

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Mentoring MinorityUndergrads inEngineering

Prof. Alvin P. Kennedy, ChairDepartment of ChemistryMorgan State University

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

-Academic Expectations

-Mentoring and Advising

-Special Needs

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Factors Affecting FreshmenSuccess

Transitioning between high school to theuniversity environment

Variations in high school educationalbackgrounds

Exposure to science career opportunities

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Freshmen Realities

• Time Management– Regimented

• Mindset– Test Oriented

• Preparation– As Need Basis

• Advisement/Assistance– Peers/Parents

• Time Management– Flexible

• Mindset– Critical & Analytical

• Preparation– Continuous

• Advisement/Assistance– Peers/Faculty/Advisors

High School University

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Mentoring&

AdvisingUndergrad Students

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Undergraduate Research Benefits

Enhances educational experienceCritical ThinkingBuilds student confidenceAwareness of career options

Equalizes diverse student backgroundsCompetitive in global environment

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

ContinuousUndergraduate

ResearchExperience

Provide freshmen and sophomoreswith a persistent andcomprehensive undergraduateresearch experience

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

C.U.R.E. Goal

Develop a focused interdisciplinaryresearch infrastructure basedprimarily on undergraduate students.

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Components of C.U.R.E.

Undergraduate ResearchDevelopment

Interdisciplinary Research - SenBER

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Program Elements

Summer programResearchCritical Thinking Skills Development

Academic yearTechnical conference attendance PresentationsNetworking

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Undergrad Research

General backgroundBasic ExperimentLiterature searchSimilar but different project

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Foundation of URDPCritical Thinking ..

LiteratureResearch ActivityPeer Review

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Critical Thinking Skills frameworkand activities are based on:

“The Thinker's Guide Library”by The Foundation for Critical Thinking

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Critical Thinking FrameworkCT and Literature

Template for Analyzing the Logic of anArticle

CT and ResearchThe Logic of an Experiment Post Experiment Analysis

CT and Peer ReviewVarious CT modulesScoring Rubrics

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Critical Thinking - Literature General Interest Topics

Analyze news articles Analyze scientific article

Develop glossary of terms Reviewed - ¨Analyzing the Logic of Reading an Article¨

Selected research paper in area Glossary Review using CT module Presentation - “Analyzing the Logic of an Article”

Final Research Report Formatted using guidelines from journal Two CT modules

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Critical Thinking - ResearchInquiry based Density Lab

Introduced to experimental designDesign experiments using:

Brief description of experimental questionCT Module - “The Logic of an Experiment”

Conduct Experiments and review resultsRedesign experiment and repeatAnalyze and report results:

CT module: Post Experiment AnalysisSubmitted laboratory report

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Critical Thinking – Peer Review

Peer Review DeliverablesInquiry based laboratory reports PostersAbstracts - Symposium/HBCU-UP

CT Peer Review tools: CT Modules Scoring Rubrics

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Students with Special Needs

Inclusion vs Full Participationmagic triangle (DSS-student-teacher)

Provide Accommodations permit or make possible use of assistivedevices and other resources from DSS

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Student Responsibilities

Identify themselves as needing disabilityaccommodations

Should register with DSS Pre-register and allow sufficient time forlogistics

Provide requested documentation Participate in developing accommodations

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Faculty Responsibilities Refer students to DSS Understand student self-disclosure

Not obligated to disclose nature of disability

Honor student confidentiality Apply consistent standards Define course requirements Ensure adequate time for DSS accommodations

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Thank Youfor your

attention andparticipation!

2009 QEM Mentoring Minority Engineers Workshop

Acknowledgements

Dr. Angela Winstead Dr. Yousef Hijji Dr. Youngchao Zhang Dr. Richard Williams Dr. Dwayne Hill Dr. Gaston N’Guerakata Dr. Gillette-Karam

NSF- RISE HRD - 062776 NSF-UP HRD 0506066 DOE DE-FG03_ER63508