Charles Feldhaus

Research models with dissemination activities for research experience for teachers (RET)

Faculty members and staff from the Schools of Engineering & Technology, Science, and Education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), have developed a model to provide research experience for high school teachers. In this intensive 8 week program, teachers spend 6 weeks in the summer conducting research, and two weeks designing classroom modules based upon their research experience to implement during the academic year.

STEM mentoring and the use of the principles of Adult Mentoring Inventory

Purpose – The purpose of this convergent parallel mixed methods paper is to explore the mentoring experience within the context of a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) specific mentoring program for urban, at risk, high school youth, using the Principles of Adult Mentoring Inventory (PAMI) as an instrument that modeled effective mentoring behavior. The study took place at a large, urban, Midwestern university in the USA. Design/methodology/approach – A research design was developed and both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in parallel, analyzed separately and then merged to determine results. The PAMI instrument that measures six constructs of mentor effectiveness was administered to STEM mentors as a pre/post-test and enabled researchers to collect quantitative data. Researchers used focus groups to collect qualitative data in the form of transcribed interviews. This study sought to inform STEM mentoring program development by collecting both qualitative and quantitative dat...

Mobile communications anytime, anywhere: The impact on work-life balance and stress

Mobile communication technologies have fundamentally altered the concept of going to work. Work has been transformed from a place you go to a function you perform, whenever and wherever you are. Laptops, smartphones, and tablets enable users to transition seamlessly between work and personal activities anytime and anywhere. The effect of this capability on an individuals ability to balance their work and personal life and manage personal stress remains under study. One thing is clear. Modern societies are still in the early stages of this transformation. While 88% of Americans have cell phones, only 46% have Smartphones and just 19% have Tablet PCs. These devices are fast, powerful, and quickly become integrated into our lives as constant companions. This paper presents the results of a survey of engineering and technology students at a Midwestern university. No significant relationship between laptop use and personal stress was found and work-life balance was only negatively impacted when usage exceeded 3 hours on days off. While significant percentages of smartphone users reported increased stress, similar percentages felt the accessibility of the smartphone reduced their stress levels. Users overwhelmingly responded that smartphones improve their ability to balance their work and personal life.

Central Indiana STEM Talent Expansion Program: Student and faculty interventions

Funded by 5-year,

Effectiveness of an ethics course delivered in traditional and non-traditional formats.

2M grant from the National Science Foundation, the Central Indiana STEM Talent Expansion Program (CI-STEP) at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is creating a pipeline of students and a campus culture change to increase the number of undergraduates obtaining Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees. CI-STEP addresses initiatives needed for transforming the undergraduate STEM experience by propagating, expanding, and creating new evidence-based educational innovations in undergraduate STEM education at IUPUI.