HTIC-REU
Research Experience for Undergraduates
at the
Human Technology Interaction Center
Randa L. Shehab, PI
Carmela Gottesman, Co-PI
Teresa Ashford, GRA
January 10, 2003
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Mission of the HTIC at OU
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Interdisciplinary research center
– psychology, computer science, industrial
engineering, library information studies,
education, communication, and history of science
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Inquiry on the interaction of people with modern
technologies
Research, teaching, and service missions
Training is a critical element of the HTIC mission
– Prepare new scholars and scientists to meet the
needs of the next millennium
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Program Overview
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To provide interdisciplinary research
opportunities for students interested in humantechnology interaction
Recruited primarily from small, non-research
based schools
8-week program
10 interns funded by NSF, 2 by OU
Sophomore-Seniors
$2400 stipend + housing + food
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
REU Recruitment and Selection
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Recruitment
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Selection
– Mass Mailing
– Skills
– Website
– GPA
» www.ou.edu/htic/reu
– E-mails/phone calls
to targeted schools
– Letters of
Recommendation
– Diverse majors
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Participant Characteristics
Male
6
Female
6
Sophomores
1
Juniors
3
Seniors
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Engineering
1
Computer Science
3
Psychology
7
Other Arts & Sciences
1
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Research Activities
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Faculty-Sponsored Research
– 20 hrs/wk working in a faculty lab
– Literature review, methodology
development, data collection, data analysis
– Examples:
» Technology Efficacy in the Elderly: an outcome of
Age or Familiarity?
» Tolerance for Complexity in Web-Based
Instruction
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Research Activities
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Team Research
– 10 hrs/wk working independently
– 4 interns per team with 1 CS
– User requirements, prototyping websites,
usability evaluations
– Examples:
» NEDC: Usability for a Professional Web Site
» IT: A Redesigned Web Portal
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Other Activities
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Workshops
– User-Centered Design, Dreamweaver,
Photoshop, Javascript, Research Methods,
Visual Communication/Screen Design,
Technical Writing, Technical Presentations
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Seminars
– Memory, Intelligent Robotics, Complex
Skill Acquisition, Cognitive Performance of
Astronauts
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
A Typical Week
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Team Research
Team A
Team B
Team C
Faculty Sponsored Research
Friday
8:00
9:00 Meetings:
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00
Faculty Sponsored Research
2:00
3:15 Workshop: Workshop: Workshop: Workshop:
Seminar:
4:00 Photoshop Dreamweaver
Ethics
Dreamweaver How Memory
5:00
Works
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Participant Comments
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Good experience
Learned more than thought they would
Value of workshops depended on
participants skills
Too much work at the end of the program
Have clear scope of team projects at outset
Ethics component required too much
writing
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
What Worked
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Assign interns to faculty in pairs
Identify committed faculty mentors
Schedule workshops in afternoon
Post a schedule of activities
Hold weekly meetings for team guidance
Hold a research conference
Hit the ground running
Provide a meal stipend
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
What Didn’t Work
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One intern assigned to each faculty
mentor
Poor definition of team projects
Lack of specific team sponsor
Required workshop attendance
Scheduled morning activities
Writing assignments for ethics workshop
OU Ambassadors
Cafeteria meal plan
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
Suggestions for 2003
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Work with team sponsors to develop better
project definition
– Meet with team sponsor point-of-contact
– Develop white paper describing the project
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Project management workshop
Statistical analysis workshop
Assign all interns to faculty in pairs
Recruit more heavily from engineering
disciplines
In-depth screening of OU applicants
– Follow up with references
– Direct discussion regarding level of interest
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma
HTIC Research Experience for
Undergraduates
2002 REU Participants
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School of Industrial Engineering - University of Oklahoma