Anita Welch, assistant professor in the School of Education, had two papers accepted for the Hawaii International Conference on Education in Honolulu in January 2010.

“Examining the Past to Prepare for the Future: An Exploratory Study to Develop Inquiry-Based 3D Case Study Modules Using 400-year-Old Documents to Improve Student Understanding of Core Mechanical Engineering Concepts and Problem-Solving Skills” is still in the development phase. The objective of this project is to develop, implement and assess a series of instructional modules in which mechanical engineering students investigate engineering challenges of the past using a 3D environment which will allow them to address real-world problems typical of what they may face after graduation.

“Teaching in Cloud: Using Web 2.0 Resources as a Means for Fostering Epistemic Growth in Undergraduate Environmental Science Students" examines the use of various Web 2.0 instructional resources, such as wikis, blogs and student designed Web sites, as means for fostering epistemic growth in undergraduate environmental science students. Gerald Ketterling, assistant professor in the School of Education, was a co-writer for this article.

"Today’s students have grown up using the Web and other forms of digital media, such as wikis, blogs and social networks. They are the digital generation," Welch said. "These students often state their dissatisfaction with having to 'un-plug' to attend traditional 'brick and mortar' classes."

The authors examine whether technology can serve as a catalyst for reforming post-secondary science education, and more specifically, whether it can help educators address the problem of passive learning among university level science students.