Dr. Garrett Love contributes to publications on science teaching and computational thinking

Chair of Engineering and Computer Science Garrett Love has been published as a contributing author in three publications this spring, stemming from his participation as computational modeler and teacher trainer with the CompHydro consortium project. The project features computational models created by Dr. Love for classroom modeling of groundwater and surface water flow and the associated propagation of pollutants. Some lessons from the project are used in the NCSSM Environmental Engineering class and are published on the NCSSM Youtube Channel (eg. Thiessen Polygon method).

• “Unplugged to Plugged-In: Teaching Computational Thinking in the Classroom”; Gunckle, Love et al; The Science Teacher, in press April 2021

• “Using computational thinking and modeling to build water and watershed literacy”; Caplan, Covitt, Love, et al; Connected Science Learning 3 (2); March-April 2021

• “Crosscutting concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning”; Editors Nordine and Lee; Chapter 4: “Patterns”; Gunckel, Love and Wyner; NSTA Press 4/30/2021

Source: NCSSM Communications

ECS/AI Welcomes Dr. Larry Hodges at Chair of Engineering and Computer Science for the Morganton Campus

Larry Hodges has joined the team as Chair of Engineering and Computer Science for the Morganton campus. During his career he has served as the C. Tycho Howle Endowed Chair and Director of the Clemson School of Computing, Chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and was a founding faculty member of both the College of Computing and the GVU Center at Georgia Tech.

His research and leadership have been recognized with numerous awards, including the IEEE Virtual Reality Career Award in 2006. In 2017 he was inducted into the NCSU Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2018 Elon University honored him with a College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.

• PhD and MS in Computer Science at North Carolina State University

• MA in Religion at Lancaster Theological Seminary

• BA with a double major in mathematics and physics at Elon University.

Dr. Hubbard Wins EdTech 2021 Trendsetter Award

The EdTech Awards from EdTech Digest is the largest recognition program in all of education technology and recognizes people in and around education for outstanding contributions in transforming education through technology to enrich the lives of learners everywhere.

Dr. Hubbard is recognized for a variety of accomplishments. Her Biomedical Engineering courses are a unique opportunity for high school students to get exposure to a wide range of STEM applications by studying advanced topics such as Honors Biomedical Engineering, Biomechanics of Injury, and Biomedical Instrumentation. In these courses, students learn in-depth anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems and use practical hands-on activities to probe the relationship between the structure and function of biomedical systems and fundamental engineering concepts such as circuits and simple machines. Students apply their course knowledge by implementing projects and case studies based on peer-reviewed research in subspecialties of biomedical engineering such as bioelectricity and sports biomechanics.

In 2018, Dr. Hubbard developed curriculum to introduce students to additional topics in biomedical engineering. In the tissue engineering module, the class mimicked state-of-the-art decellularization protocols to create “ghost” piglet hearts that could then serve as a scaffold to grow replacement tissue. Students were also introduced to modern medical imaging technology by learning how to read basic CT scans, segmented the data using the 3D modeling software 3D Slicer, and then 3D printed skulls and hearts. Students explored the next frontier of human/machine interfaces by using EMG signals obtained from commercial muscle sensors and an Arduino microcontroller to power a robotic arm. This neuroprosthetics module is now regularly taught in the Bioinstrumentation course.

In 2019/2020 Dr. Hubbard led our school's entry in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition, bringing together sustainability and artificial intelligence, to address the problem of recycling cross-contamination. Dr. Hubbard's team was one of 5 winning teams out of almost 3,000 from around the nation.

ECS/AI Welcomes Lisa Palmisano as New Program Associate

The Department of Engineering and Computer Science/AI is excited to announce that Lisa Palmisano is joining us in the role of program associate. Lisa began working at NCSSM in the summer of 2017, providing administrative support first with Distance Education and Extended Programs, and later with Development and the NCSSM Foundation. She is now the Administrative Assistant for Engineering and Computer Science.

Lisa has worked in an administrative role in a variety of fields over the years, including the oriental carpet wholesale industry and the beverage distribution industry. Lisa was born in Fayetteville, NC, and grew up in a military family, traveling around the country throughout her childhood. She now calls Durham home. When she is not working, Lisa enjoys reading and sewing.

Text Credit: Communications via ECS/AI

ECS Faculty Engage NCSSM students in First Ever Virtual J-Term

January 2021 marked the first January Term (J-Term) at NCSSM. J-Term is an opportunity for students to take short 2-4 week courses in topics that may be outside the scope covered during the traditional semester or courses that prepare them for advanced study during the upcoming semester. J-term was held in a virtual format this year in response to COVID-19. ECS Faculty stepped up to the challenge by creating and redesigning a range of engaging course options for students.

• Creating 3-D Puzzles with Dr. Shannon Namboodri

  • Students learned Fusion 360 (CAD) and 3-D printing to create designs for 3-D interlocking puzzles.

• Digital Audio Engineering and Production with Mr. Larry Myers and Mr. Scott Laird

  • Students surveyed interdisciplinary concepts in acoustics, music and engineering with a focus on hands-on discovery.

• Engineering Design for Competition with Dr. Garrett Love

  • Students applied the Engineering Design Process to structural engineering (bridge/truss design) including multiple builds, testing and analysis.

• Engineering the Human with Mr. John Kirk

  • Students explored the history of what we call the robot, how it was first developed, the problems that it was intended to solve and those that it created.

• Java Programming with Mr. Keethan Kleiner

  • Students experienced with programming were prepared for the spring Advanced Java course

• Managing Data with Unix Tools with Dr. John Morrison:

  • Students learned how to use a toolset available on any UNIX computer that could be used to process, clean, transform, and visualize data.

• 3-D Printing and Medical Device Design with Dr. Rex Jeffries

  • Students created bioinspired CAD designs using a library of available templates and 3-D printed anatomical structures

• Visualization, Perception, and Your Presentation with Dr. Letitia Hubbard

  • Students explored the practice and power of data visualization through the lens of experts such as Edward Tufte and Colin Ware.

NCSSM Awarded 100K Cybersecurity Grant from Cisco

NCSSM has been awarded a $100K grant in partnership with Cisco to develop and pilot engagement activities in cybersecurity, computer science, and artificial intelligence for K12 teachers and students. The grant will foster relationships with collaborators and researchers at Cisco, the largest cybersecurity company in the world, with a targeted focus on underrepresented groups.

"To have the support, expertise, and partnership of Cisco, which has such a major presence right here in Research Triangle Park, really validates and energizes our efforts to bring this field of learning to elementary and secondary students and teachers," says Charlotte Dungan, the AI Program Architect with AI for Teachers, a project of NCSSM's Ryden Program for Innovation and Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.

"This gift from Cisco is an enormous boost to this vital effort that allows us to expand our reach into K-12 cybersecurity #education, and we look forward to partnering with them closely for many years to come," Dungan says.

Check out the following links to learn more:

NCSSM developing cybersecurity curriculum with support of $100K Cisco grant

Growing the next generation of cybersecurity talent - Cisco Blog

Text Credit: NCSSM Communications