*Updates for 2024 are in progress.

 

Supervisors  

Janette Hughes | JoAnne Arcand | Shilpa Dogra

 

Supervisor name: Janette Hughes

Project title: Improving Children's Mathematics Learning through Computational Participation

Summary of research project: This project is part of a four-year longitudinal design-based research (DBR) study in collaboration with researchers at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) and Universidade Estadual Paulista (Brazil). In this project, Dr. Janette Hughes and her team are exploring how maker pedagogies (i.e., approaches to teaching that are inquiry-based & student-centered) and the tenets of computational participation (CP; i.e., computational thinking as shared & collaborative) can engage students in learning mathematics. The research team has partnered with a local school board to provide professional learning, curricular co-planning, and co-facilitation of classroom sessions around math and CP.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• Transcribing audiovisual data (e.g., speech, gestures, non-verbal observations) from teacher professional learning sessions and classroom activities.
• Maintaining participant confidentiality.
• Reviewing and/or creating a database of relevant scholarly literature.
• Meeting with project team member(s) to provide updates on transcribed data, literature progress, etc.
• Other duties as needed.

Student qualifications required:

• Currently enrolled in (or previously completed) undergraduate studies in Education (preferred), or Social Sciences/Humanities.
• Proficiency with Google Suite applications.
• Possess skills in transcription, literature reviewing.
• Familiarity with K-8 education, curriculum an asset.
• Previous courses in (qualitative) research an asset.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Learn strategies for transcribing and organizing audiovisual research data.
• Learn strategies for conducting literature reviews, including annotated bibliographies and research databases.
• Develop an understanding of the current state of research around computational participation and mathematics teaching and learning.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

 

Supervisor name: JoAnne Arcand

Project title: Evaluating an image-based dietary assessment tool powered by artificial intelligence

Summary of research project: We aim to assess the accuracy of a new artificial intelligence driven dietary tracking app, ‘RxFood’ against weighted food records (the current gold standard dietary assessment measure), to validate RxFood as a tool to help dietary management of patients with heart disease. Participants (n=150) will use RxFood to take photos or provide text entries of foods and beverages consumed over the same 3 days they manually record their food and beverages for the weighted 3-day food record. Pearson’s Correlation and the Bland Altman method will be used to determine the strength of association and agreement between the nutritional composition from each method. REB 16493.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• The student will assist with data collection, food records data entry, analysis and reporting.
• The student will participate in weekly research team meetings, and lab meetings with Dr. Arcand’s trainees.

Student qualifications required:

• Only students with a GPA of 3.6 or higher in the past 2 years
• Interest in nutrition research and received at least an A- in an undergraduate nutrition course
• Detail-oriented
• Critically-thinking
• Self-directed, resourceful and responsive
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary research team that includes graduate students and research assistants.
• Learn how to assess diet using multiple dietary assessment methods.
• Learn basic statistical analyses and quality assurance processes in a research environment.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

 

Supervisor name: Shilpa Dogra

Project title: Inclusive and Accessible Active Transportation

Summary of research project: The purpose of this project is to understand the needs, barriers, and priorities of equity seeking groups residing in Durham Region as they pertain to policies, programs, and infrastructure for active transportation. This project is being done in collaboration with municipal and regional partners. The first step is to conduct focus groups with equity seeking groups across Durham. Data will be analyzed using thematic content analysis. Second, a think tank with partners, advocates, residents, students, and researchers will be conducted to create a report on suggestions to municipalities in Durham. These will be presented to various Active Transportation Committees.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• The student will be responsible for organizing the think tank event, and drafting the report that will be presented to our municipal partners.
• They have already begun working on the ethics application for the focus group component of the project (expected to be completed before the summer).

Student qualifications required:

• 3rd or 4th year Kinesiology student with qualitative research experience.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Learn to communicate with different audiences (e.g. municipal partners and residents)
• Learn to conduct thematic analysis and draft a manuscript for peer-review
• Learn to organize a think tank event
• Learn to write a report for partners
• Learn to present to a research audience

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person