Year-long Undergraduate Research Projects

Abstract

Undergraduate research has become the centerpiece of many institutions of higher education’s efforts to attract and recruit high school graduates. Since 1987, throughout my tenure at Bloomsburg University, I have involved over 20 students in my research. In my experience, there is clear evidence that students of mathematics substantially benefit if they engage in research during their undergraduate studies. Whether the student plans to apply for employment after graduation or continue with graduate studies, the undergraduate research experience has a tremendous effect on the student’s success. In this paper, I will provide some personal insight on my experience in working with undergraduate students. In most cases, my experience has been in working with one student on a long term (one semester or mostly year-long) research problems. I will discuss my approach to identifying students, the type of projects, providing guidance, and finally the challenges that we face in supervising undergraduate research. To exemplify, emphasis will be placed on the status of a recent 1-year research project, which was funded by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and a senior undergraduate student worked on it for one year.     

Assessing Aspects of Undergraduate Research Through Journaling

Abstract

It is necessary while mentoring students in undergraduate research to conduct assessments in order to determine how well the research experience is progressing. It may also be necessary to assign a grade to a student’s performance at the conclusion of such a venture. Journaling may be used both as a formative assessment tool and as a summative assessment tool. This paper discusses the process of introducing journals into a mentoring relationship and using them to inform interactions with students.     

Engaging Undergraduate Kinesiology Students in Clinically-based Research

Many undergraduate students in kinesiology are interested in clinical careers and seek research opportunities for advanced study and unique learning experiences. This article describes a process of engaging undergraduate students in a multi-disciplinary, National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded program project investigating factors that may affect pelvic floor support and symptoms in primiparous women during the first year postpartum. Students complete general and protocol-specific training prior to engagement, have specific tasks that reinforce skill development and require independence, and are invited to participate in additional opportunities with the investigative team. The topic of pelvic floor health is novel to most students and participation in this research expands their knowledge beyond a mainstream kinesiology curriculum. Institutionalizing this type of program could formalize undergraduate student research experiences and facilitate ongoing clinical research efforts with a kinesiology focus.     

量子信息中量子态的矩阵表示

用矩阵表示量子信息中的量子态便于进行量子并行计算。本文以矩阵及变换理论为基础,对纯态、混合态、缠绕态及量子相干叠加态的矩阵表示进行分析,所得结果有助于加深理解量子理论。     

量子信息原理及其进展

本文简述了量子信息技术的发展,并以量子离物传态为例介绍了量子信息技术的基本原理.     

量子信息的实在语境分析

文章从物理实在和信息实在的语境分析出发,以量子纠缠的制备—量子测量—量子态的描述这一语境分析思路为基础,分析认为:量子纠缠的制备与信息的显示,是信息主客体的语境最终体现,量子测量是语境的描述与映射,只有通过语境分析才能对量子信息理论及其哲学解释给予合理证实。     

An Applied Project-Driven Approach to Undergraduate Research Experiences

Abstract

In this paper I will outline the process I have developed for conducting applied mathematics research with undergraduates and give some examples of the projects we have worked on. Several of these projects have led to refereed publications that could be used to illustrate topics taught in the undergraduate curriculum.     

大脑中的量子信息过程(英文)

根据细胞微管骨架的α-构型和β-构型,并利用Lloyd关于微管壁上量子信息过程的构想,讨论了大脑神经系统中的量子信息过程。研究表明,在微管蛋白中肯定存在量子信息过程,我们利用赝自旋原子模型讨论了系统的哈密顿量。     

量子信息中的纯态和混合态

量子纯态和混合态是量子信息中最重要的两种量子状态。本文从纯态和混合态的定义、纯态和混合态密度算符的区别、量子纠缠态与量子纯态和混合态以及纯态演化为混合态导致消相干等四个方面进行剖析，研究纯态和混合态之间的区别和联系。     

信息技术与课程整合的研究与实践

当前，在新课程改革的背景下，信息技术与课程整合在各地如火如荼地开展，受到了广大教育工作的关注。章从教师改变观念、构建新型教学结构、资源开发建设、树立终身学习理念、科学管理等五个方面入手阐述了对信息技术与课程整合的研究与实践。     

Developing Collaboration Skills in Team Undergraduate Research Experiences

Abstract

Interdisciplinary undergraduate research experiences often require students to work in teams with other students and researchers from different disciplines, creating a need for development of new skills in interdisciplinary collaboration. In this paper, we describe our unique efforts to mentor participants in developing these skills during our team-based research experience for undergraduates program. This effort was initiated in response to a perceived need to provide professional development in collaboration for our participants, who come from diverse backgrounds that span a range of disciplines, institutions, and cultures. We describe here the intervention used, which is a modified version of one successfully implemented in a classroom setting. Furthermore, we present our formative and summative program evaluation data regarding participants’ perceptions about what helps or hinders team science. The most-repeated themes in student evaluations, in order from most mentions to least, were: communication, goal setting, shared mental model, timing/scheduling, cooperation, non-participation, attitudes, and mentor guidance/support. Together these themes account for 82% of the student responses. Lastly, we present our observations of the positive effects of this intervention on our program. Our findings may be useful to those mentoring undergraduates in both team research and classroom group learning.     

基于信息技术平台的科研素材应用于本科生培养的探索——以指导自然地理本科生科研活动为例

本文结合首都师范大学“科学前沿进低年级本科生课堂”、“综合自然地理学”、“第四纪环境学”、“全球环境变化研究”四门课程的教学,探索如何有效利用信息技术平台引导学生进行科研活动,并以完善的科研素材指导本科生科研活动。基于信息技术平台的科研素材向本科生开放,具有即时性、开放性、自主性、权限性,并让学生在科研活动中有最直接的参考实体。、     

Media Exposure on Student Work: Spotlight on Undergraduate Research

Abstract

This paper describes efforts by the author to engage and motivate students in undergraduate research by giving them a large audience and engaging the media in disseminating their work. I provide an introduction to public relations from the point of view of a mathematics professor, and describe some lessons I have learned in my own attempts to engage newsprint, radio, and television sources in stories about undergraduate research in mathematics. After describing some partially successful early attempts, the paper discusses a recent event in which undergraduate research in mathematics became, briefly, a “hot news item” in Central Washington. The paper concludes with some thoughts about the benefits of this type of work to our students and our profession.     

量子计算机研究进展

从量子力学的基本原理出发,论述了量子力学的基本概念,简要介绍了目前实现量子计算机的几种物理方法,包括离子阱、腔量子电动力学、核磁共振、量子点等,以及当前该研究领域的研究进展。     

The Impending Revolution in Undergraduate Science Education

There is substantial evidence that scientific teaching in the sciences, i.e. teaching that employs instructional strategies that encourage undergraduates to become actively engaged in their own learning, can produce levels of understanding, retention and transfer of knowledge that are greater than those resulting from traditional lecture/lab classes. But widespread acceptance by university faculty of new pedagogies and curricular materials still lies in the future. In this essay we review recent literature that sheds light on the following questions:

• What has evidence from education research and the cognitive sciences told us about undergraduate instruction and student learning in the sciences?
• What role can undergraduate student research play in a science curriculum?
• What benefits does information technology have to offer?
• What changes are needed in institutions of higher learning to improve science teaching?

We conclude that widespread promotion and adoption of the elements of scientific teaching by university science departments could have profound effects in promoting a scientifically literate society and a reinvigorated research enterprise.     

美国研究型大学本科生科研的组织与实施

美国研究型大学本科生科研取得的成就与其成熟而有效的管理体制是密不可分的。本文从宏观和微观层面分析了美国研究型大学本科生科研的组织与实施,以为我国组织和实施本科生科研提供借鉴。     

Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experience Through a Food Science Research Project

Engaging undergraduate students in research has become increasingly important due to its potential benefits (for example, increased intention to pursue postgraduate study and enhanced understanding of theoretical knowledge). This study investigated whether a comprehensive food science research project that was incorporated into the laboratory component of an Experimental Study of Foods course would enhance student knowledge, confidence, and interest in research. A total of 84 students participated in two sections of the laboratory (2016, n = 39; 2017, n = 45). Scores for pre and posttests and questionnaires were used to determine if the differences in knowledge scores and ratings for confidence in doing research were significant. Knowledge scores indicated that participants were knowledgeable about research at baseline (2016, 7.31 ± 1.15; 2017, 6.89 ± 0.1.21; maximum of 10 points). Results of the t‐tests showed that the change in knowledge scores before and after the project was not statistically significant; however, the level of confidence in performing various research skills (for example, identify research questions, formulate hypotheses, design an experiment) significantly increased upon project completion. In general, students demonstrated favorable attitudes toward the research project at the end of this project. Qualitative responses were organized into three themes that related to the “input” (elements that made the project successful), “process” (how the project was conducted), and “outcomes” (reported gains or benefits) of the project. Recommendations were made in terms of mentorship, research guidelines and topics, and group culture to improve future projects.     

Introduction to the Special Issue on Perspectivesand Experiences on Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Research: Part II

Abstract

This issue is the second of a special PRIMUS two-part issue collecting articles on undergraduate research from experienced faculty mentors. We offer it as a valuable resource for faculty leading undergraduate research programs. This issue presents a collection of papers offering advice on a variety of specific topics important for leaders of undergraduate research programs. Issues of finding and designing appropriate and accessible research projects, assessing undergraduate research, and publicizing it in the media are addressed.     

Introduction to the Special Issue on Perspectives and Experiences on Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Research: Part I

Abstract

This issue is the first of a special PRIMUS two-part issue collecting articles from experienced faculty mentors. We offer it as a valuable resource for faculty leading undergraduate research programs. It is inspired by the “Regional Faculty Workshop on REU Issues” in 2013 and the Joint Mathematics Meeting 2015 Mathematical Association of America’s “Themed Session on Perspectives and Experiences on Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Research.” This issue consists of seven papers focusing on the larger issues involved in creating, running, and sustaining an undergraduate research program in mathematics.     

我国研究型大学本科课程改革适应新经济发展的思考

研究型大学本科课程改革总是在一定经济背景下进行的，我国研究型大学的本科课程改革必然要适应国际国内新经济发展带来的机遇与挑战。面对新经济形势的发展，我国研究型大学本科课程改革一要重视课程目标和内容的基础性，二要提高课程实施的创造性，三要增强课程操作的国际性。