kcduquette@bsu.edu   ★   +1 (765) 285 2789

                               Recent projects

 
 
Immersive Learning

CS4MS+                                                 Computer Science for Muncie and Surrounding Schools

Diversity is essential for the future success of Computer Science (CS). Still, few students experience CS in elementary, middle, and high school. As a result, they are less likely to know what it means to be a computer scientist, or if they have any interest in becoming one. Although Indiana recently adopted new CS standards for K-12, most local schoolteachers have little or no experience teaching these new topics.

These schools serve students from diverse backgrounds who do not consistently have the resources available to participate in CS activities. The focus of this immersive learning class will be to expose our partners’ students, particularly underrepresented minorities and females, to CS-a need resulting from the establishment of the relatively new Indiana academic standards for CS.

 

 Faculty Mentor:  David Largent, Associate Lecturer, Computer Science

Project goals

The focus of this multi-year project was to introduce middle and high school students, particularly underrepresented minorities and females, to CS and Computational Thinking (CT). The project team researched the specific needs of the three schools, accumulated instructional resources, and developed modules that met the new Indiana standards.  When not developing materials, the project team spent time in classrooms delivering content and assisting teachers with their students' questions.                                                                             

 In addition to increasing the number of schools and age groups involved, this year's class also updated online teaching resources created by last year's team. The school administrators and teachers planned to utilize the versatile materials during the school year, after school, during extended breaks, or over the summer, based on the students' needs.

 

 

Immersive Learning

Conservation Tales

This immersive learning project combines science and art, which often go together, to create a series of children's books that showcases wildlife conservation and contains teachable moments. An ongoing project, the most recent iteration looked at monarch butterflies and invasive carp in the Midwest. Students plan and conduct every aspect of the books.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                             Photo by Robbie Mehling

Project goals

Conservation Tales is an immersive learning program developed in a colaboration between the Department of Biology and the School of Art to design, create and publish high-quality educational books about wildlife conservation and science processes. The project began in the summer of 2016 as a pilot project to test and develop a process for creating the books, and over the course of three years, the team has published nine volumes of the series. The proposed project will continue the work of the Conservation Tales team as a student-centered and globally-engaged sustainable immersive learning program from Spring 2021 through Summer 2023.


The proposed project will create an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate students in the Summer 2021, Spring 2022, and Spring 2023 semesters. The goal in each semester is to produce two new books in the Conservation Tales series. Team members will also develop marketing and promotional materials and lead community engagement and outreach events to help the public learn about conservation actions and the importance of a healthy environment.

 
 

Faculty Mentor:  Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Teaching Professor of Art, School of Art                                                                     Faculty Mentor:  Tom McConnell, Professor of Biology, Biology

                                                                 

 

 

Immersive Learning

ARTS! Muncie AfterSchool

ARTS! Muncie After School is a new pilot program which introduces theatre, in tandem with dance, into the overall structure and growth of the project. Rather than focus on using the pedagogy of one art form, this program seeks to integrate multiple art forms with critical and creative thinking, into the student participants pedagogical skil set. Aligning with the growing need for diverse and adaptable professional teaching artists, the program provides education and training to our undergraduate students. Professional theatre and dance companies across the country build community-based, educational programming for young people.

The program trains students to get and succeed in these future career pathways and creates a stronger focus on interdisciplinary teaching artistry with youth. This program is inspired by the previous pilot program DANCE! Muncie After School in the spring semesters of 2018 and 2019 and a similar (after school) model developed in 1996 by Jil Beck at The University of California, Irvine, ca led ArtsBridge. However, as this program is working to integrate two related art forms into one cohesive arts experience, we are applying for pilot program support. Our hope is to add additional art forms (visual art and music) after this pilot program.

 

 

Project goals

ARTS! Muncie After School is a program designed to encourage inquiry and analysis, facilitate co laborative learning, prepare Ba l State theatre and dance students for professional teaching artist careers, and enrich the lives of Muncie community youth. The immersive course experience is geared toward advanced students in the Department of Theatre and Dance throughout the spring 2022 semester where Ba l State students wil work with and contribute to the growth of the arts in Muncie Community Schools (MCS).

 The program wil be offered to any enroled MCS student free of charge. The framework of the program consists of three main stages of development: Research and Curriculum Development, Classroom Implementation, and Reflection and Dissemination. The project wil culminate in a final co laborative event between MCS and BSU students to showcase the successes of the project and overa l student advancement.

 

Faculty Mentor:  Melanie Swihart, Assistant Teaching Professor of Dance, Theatre & Dance                                                                  Faculty Mentor:  Andy Waldron, Assistant Professor of Theater Education, Theatre & Dance

 

Contact me:
E-mail: kcduquette@bsu.edu
Phone number: +1 (765) 285 2789

 

© Copyright Kara Marie DuQuette