2023 GIANT Project Selections
The Grassroots Initiatives to Address Needs Together (GIANT) program empowers teams of students, postdocs, staff and faculty to propose and implement research-based initiatives that expand opportunity, enhance collaboration and strengthen our engineering community. Many high-quality proposals were submitted to this year's GIANT program.
The IDEA Institute is excited to announce the selection of projects for this year's engineering excellence initiatives:
2023 GIANT Project Teams
*Projects co-funded by the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute (IIDAI)
§ Projects co-funded by Illinois Higher Educational Initiative in Semiconductors (HIVE)
Phase 1 Projects
Exploring Alternative Modalities for Lecture Demonstrations §
Team Members:
- Kevin Wandke (Graduate Student, Electrical & Computer Engineering)
- Sandra Georgy (Undergraduate, Electrical & Electronics Engineering)
- Christopher Schmitz (Teaching Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering)
- Jonathon Schuh (Teaching Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering)
- Victoria Shao (Teaching Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering)
The integration of practical demonstrations into traditional lecture-based courses has been shown to improve student learning and engagement. However, live demonstrations are rarely incorporated into large multi section first year engineering courses. This project assesses the efficacy of video-based demonstrations as an alternative means of delivering content that will better engage students who struggle with traditional lecture-based learning modalities.
Fostering Inclusive Lab and Design Courses*
Team Members:
- Rebecca Reck (Teaching Associate Professor, Bioengineering)
- Katie Ansell (Teaching Assistant Professor, Physics)
- Chris Schmitz (Teaching Professor and Chief Advisor, Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Holly Golecki (Teaching Assistant Professor, Bioengineering)
- Chandrasekhar Radhakrishnan (Teaching Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Jessica TerBush (Senior Lecturer, Materials Science & Engineering)
- Dave Mussulman (Adjunct Lecturer, School of Information Sciences)
Lab and design courses are an integral part of a STEM education. However, there are unique barriers to creating an inclusive space where all students can be successful. This project seeks to identify barriers and evidence-based practices to reduce them. Additionally, a tool will be developed for instructors to evaluate their own course.
Increasing Algebra 1 grades through a Joy of Math Community Homework Hotline
Team Members:
- Joe Bradley (Clinical Assistant Professor, Bioengineering)
- Julie Cutright (Coordinator of Community Partnerships, Carle Illinois College of Medicine)
- Ruby Mendenhall (Associate Professor, Department of African American Studies)
This project aims to create a community homework hotline to provide support for students and families, focusing on marginalized groups being successful in their high school Algebra 1 course. This project will assess the impact of the homework hotline on Algebra 1 grades, math identity and self-efficacy in participants.
NSBE-B[U]ILT Talent-Pipeline Reinforcement Project §
Team Members:
- Elias Hadgu (Undergraduate, Electrical & Electronics Engineering)
- Nathanael Assefa (PhD student, Computer Science)
- Katrina Jones (Senior Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Computer Science)
The Talent-Pipeline Reinforcement Project will develop undergraduate students through professional support and guided research at Grainger with graduate student mentors. This project aims to remedy the pipeline problem for historically underrepresented groups in STEM through research, mentoring, and material support initiatives.
Evaluating STEM Identity Development in Racially Underrepresented Elementary School Students through the St. Elmo Brady Academy
Team Members:
- Paul J. A. Kenis (Endowed Chair, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)
- Valerie O'Brien (Teaching Associate, University of Illinois Laboratory High School)
This project expands the St. Elmo Brady Academy (SEBA), a partnership between University High School, the School of Chemical Sciences, and Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. Named for the first Black chemistry PhD—a 1916 University of Illinois graduate—SEBA provides culturally-responsive
STEM project-learning opportunities to promote STEM identities among students from racially underrepresented backgrounds. This initiative will formalize curriculum and develop shareable evaluation tools.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Computer Science Directed Reading Program (DRP)*
Team Members:
- Nathanael Assefa (PhD student, Computer Science Department)
- Colleen M. Lewis (Associate Professor, Computer Science Department)
- Nancy M. Amato (Head and Abel Bliss Professor, Computer Science)
The CS DRP is a mentoring program that will guide undergraduate students through directed reading of graduate CS textbooks of their choice with graduate student mentors. This project aims to introduce undergraduates to the type of learning one is likely to experience as a researcher. By providing students the opportunity to self-direct their learning, they can tailor their education to their individual needs and goals, which can lead to better engagement, retention, and increased academic performance and interest in graduate school.
In League with STEM
Team Members:
- Caleb Bruhn (PhD Student, Agricultural & Biological Engineering)
- Amos Jeng (PhD Student, Developmental Sciences)
- Willie Comer (Pastor, Berean Covenant Church and Executive Director, East Central IL Real Life Youth for Christ)
This initiative aims to foster STEM interest among local Black middle and high school students through exposure to hands-on design activities and mentorship by Black STEM professionals. This will be done in partnership with a local youth development program which has built extensive rapport with this student population across several schools.
Phase 2 Project
ASL Aspire: A Game-Based Vocabulary Platform for Deaf Students
Team Members:
- Mona Jawad (Undergraduate, Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering)
- Amy Lee (Undergraduate, Bioengineering)
- Ethan Gaughan (Undergraduate, Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering)
- Holly Golecki (Teaching Assistant Professor, Bioengineering)