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| * IDeaLaboratory |
September 11, 2008
Lab dedicated to creative, educational projects in science, technology, engineering and math
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University has opened a research and development laboratory focusing on creative thinking, interactive media and animation, especially as they relate to STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - disciplines.The IDeaLaboratory in Knoy Hall was developed by La Verne Abe Harris and Nicoletta Adamo-Villani, both associate professors of computer graphics technology in the College of Technology.
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Abe Harris, who directed a similar laboratory while she was at Arizona State University, said such a laboratory is necessary to encourage interdisciplinary research collaboration.
"One of the main focuses of the research in the IDeaLaboratory will be using interactive media and animation for innovative delivery, usability assessment, and affective and cognitive learning," she said. "We will develop projects and then have the ability to test them to see if they have an effect on learning."
Adamo-Villani said one of the benefits of the lab is that it creates a central place to collaborate on IDeaLaboratory projects.
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"This lab is a great way to establish interdisciplinary relationships and makes it easy for the content experts to meet with the computer graphics technology experts to create truly innovative projects," she said. "One of our main goals with the lab is to attract more graduate students for research projects, many of whom base their school choice on what kinds of research resources are offered."
The lab is equipped with a variety of high-end computer hardware and software, such as Dell and Macintosh computers capable of processing animations and creating renderings, video capture and editing tools, and a mechanical motion-capture system that accurately translates human motion into computer animations.
Although the IDeaLaboratory will be open only to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty who are working on research projects connected to the lab, Abe Harris and Adamo-Villani are open to collaborate on developing future research projects with faculty from any discipline.
Some of the current projects in the lab include:
* A National Science Foundation-funded project by Adamo-Villani and Ronnie Wilbur, professor of speech, language and hearing sciences, called Mathsigner to create animated, interactive learning tools that help deaf children learn math and science concepts.
* An industry-funded project with Educate for Tomorrow by Adamo-Villani called Nanofactor that will help middle school students learn nanotechnology concepts by allowing them to design and perform experiments via an interactive story format.
* A National Science Foundation-funded research project involving Abe Harris and Mary Sadowski, associate dean in the College of Technology, called EnVISIONS (Enhancing Visualization Skills — Improving Options and Success). This research study involves the collaboration of seven institutions and is designed to remove barriers to success for technologists and engineers through the introduction of spatial visualization exercises –– both online and hands-on.
* A study by Abe Harris on virtual laboratories, which focuses on investigating innovative approaches to online learning and technologies in interdisciplinary areas, such as photography, global management, business operations management, assessment and psychometrics. The objective is to raise the quality of online courses and to increase access.
Abe Harris and Adamo-Villani are working on other funded projects and have several pending proposals for additional work.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: La Verne Abe Harris, (765) 494.0933, harris1@purdue.edu
Nicoletta Adamo-Villani, (765) 496-1297, nadamovi@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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