Clarkson’s Sponsored Research Services, in partnership with our internal Research Advisory Committee would like to congratulate the winners of our second annual Team Science Projects Planning Grant competition!
(1) Leveraging Machine Learning for Health and Development: Mapping Optimal Pathways of Childhood Self-Regulation
Team members
Ying Zhang (Psychology), Soumyabrata Dey (Computer Science), David Schelly (Occupational Therapy), Alisha Ohl (Occupational Therapy), Rachel Razza (Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University)
Project Description
This interdisciplinary project leverages machine learning techniques to uncover the intricate and interrelated patterns among environmental factors that shape the development of self-regulation in early childhood. The team will also develop a Self-Regulation Insight Tool (SRIT) that would provide early childhood professionals with means to better understand the nature of self-regulation in the children they work with and provide them with more precise pathways for intervention. Policymakers and government agencies concerned with children’s development and health will also benefit from the evidence-based findings of this project.
Expected Impact
This interdisciplinary study will incorporate information from psychology, sociology, occupational therapy, computer science, and family science to carve an innovative methodological approach to elucidate the developmental processes of self-regulation in early childhood. With the insights gained from this study, we can take a critical step towards improving the health and wellbeing of children and addressing developmental disparities in our society.
(2) Project Title: CDED: Being Brave in a New World: Impacts of ChatGPT on the University
Team members
Mahesh Banavar (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Alexander Cohen (Political Science) Matt Maniere (Sociology), Jan DeWaters (STEM Education), Alastair Kocho-Williams (History), Lisa Propst (Literature), Rebecca Pelky (English and Film Studies), JoAnn Rogers (Sociology and Gender Studies), Eric York (Communication Media and Design), Catherine Sajna (Writing Center and ESL Program)
Project Description
AI chatbots are increasingly capable of generating realistic-sounding text and code, and are predicted to have wide-ranging effects on education, the workplace, critical thinking and plagiarism. In this project, we will explore and evaluate the use of this technology in classrooms by designing learning activities that (1) attempt to make productive use of ChatGPT as a tool, (2) teach students the relative benefits and pitfalls of the technology, and (3) assess the impact of ChatGPT on learning.
Expected Impact
The current PI team brings the interdisciplinary makeup and technical background in relevant fields to be well-suited to research this topic. Our findings, methods, recommendations, and best practices will be backed by data, and will be replicable and scalable across institutions. The groundwork we lay here will allow us to take the lead and have a meaningful impact as the field emerges and evolves. Our work will impact universities as well as industry. We will work closely with experts in AI and we will form partnerships with industry which will provide us with an avenue to understand the current attitudes in industry and will also allow us to tune our guidelines to be sensitive to the needs of future employers of our students. We will disseminate our findings in publications and local workshops beginning with a proposed Associated Colleges workshop in mid-August.