Research Symposium

BIO

I am Zach Helms, from Gulf Breeze, Florida. I hope to get a PhD after undergrad and maintain a career as a forensic psychologist. I am excited at the idea of studying witness evaluation and credibility, as well as bias and its impact in the courtroom. My interest in research was sparked from my 6th grade science fair project on the placebo effect, and I've been seeking answers to questions ever since.

Social Media and Informal Learning

Abstract

Current understanding in the field of education has come to realize the importance out-of-school learning has on students. Out of school learning can come from external sources, but is often self-directed, with a curriculum chosen specifically by the individual. This self-directed learning, also called informal learning, can vary in its setting and domain; in person and online. The purpose of this study is to identify what social media platforms are used to facilitate informal learning, and analyze the information gained from doing so. In this study we used student interview transcripts regarding educational experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified students who were interested/participating in learning through an online, social media setting (a nontraditional setting where informal learning might occur) and codified both the information sought/gained as well as the social media platform used. To identify what qualified as informal learning, we employed the five-category framework as established by Callanan et. al,. This framework realized informal learning as learning that was 1) non-didactive, (2) highly socially collaborative, (3) embedded in meaningful activity, (4) initiated by learner’s interest or choice, and (5) removed from external assessment. We then performed a content analysis of the data to identify what information was most sought after and through which platform that information was found. The results demonstrated a favored use of social media for informal learning through the Covid-19 pandemic by teen students, with a highlighted preference for YouTube, and a particular interest category of current events.

Keywords: Informal learning, Social media, COVID-19

BIO

I am a sophomore Psychology major at FSU, currently working to obtain a career in counseling and therapeutic services. Despite my major, my research interests expand across all areas of studies as learning and acquiring more knowledge is always the underlying goal within my academic pursuits. I plan to continue participating in research projects throughout my undergraduate and graduate careers.

Exploring the Use of Mobile Augmented Reality as Performance Support

Abstract

Abstract
Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) technology has become increasingly integrated into a variety of different sectors of society, most recently through performance support in industry and maintenance. The framework in which organizations adopt mobile AR has yet to provide a clear model of implementation for the business sector, limiting the ability for the majority of corporations to properly increase performance support within the workplace. The aim of this project is to investigate the process companies follow when adopting mobile AR, as well as the solutions to possible challenges that can allow for increased performance support and achievement of organizational goals. Between 3 and 6 HR specialists from North American and European companies completed in-depth interviews regarding their mobile AR adoption, providing information regarding the challenges and benefits within their organization following adoption. Through thematic analysis, the data allows a general idea of the steps involved in successfully increasing performance support within the workplace. While the study is currently still in progress, preliminary data suggests that the creation of an interactive and informative AR program, to be accessed in real-time by workers with hand-held devices, has been successful for most companies compared to head-worn devices and programs that lack instantaneous instruction.

Keywords: Performance Support, Technology, Industry

BIO

My name is Elizabeth Muir and I am from Gainesville, Florida. I am an English Literature Major planning on attending Law School. I hope to pursue a career in Constitutional or Family Law.

The Rosentrasse Foundation: Acts of Civil Disobedience in Nazi Germany

Abstract

The Rosenstrasse Foundation was founded in 2018 based on Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus’ research surrounding the Rosentrasse Protest (1943). The foundation has three goals: to educate the public, to honor those that participated in the protest, and to create a platform for their descendants too reunite and read about their family history. The research assistants’ task was to look through Holocaust survivor archives and find candidates to write a biography on, find more archives, and continually update and edit our biographies. While many of them are participants in the Rosenstrasse Protest, they do not have to be and can be citizens who committed other acts of civil disobedience.

Keywords: Rosenstrasse Holocaust

BIO

Cameron Mullin is a first-year student at Florida State University. He is studying Finance, and hopes to one day work in private equity. He is a member of the Presidential Scholars Program at FSU, which participates in ongoing service projects relating to food insecurity on college campuses, as well as K-12 education and homelessness. Aside from finance, Cameron's academic interests include psychology and computer science. During the 2021-2022 school year, Cameron participated in research exploring the sustainability of the development of CollegeTown, located right down the street in Tallahassee. His research focused on the level of equity that was preserved or promoted throughout the development of CollegeTown from. Moving forward, Cameron would like to focus on the economic effects that the College Town/Gaines Street development has had on the local Tallahassee community. Outside of school, Cameron enjoys reading, golfing, fishing, playing the guitar, and spending time with his family and dog, Duke.

The Sustainable Development of CollegeTown

Abstract

Cities are looking towards sustainable development practices to minimize environmental externalities associated with growth. Due to increased public awareness of environmental issues, researchers have assessed the potential impacts of projects through the three E’s of sustainable development: Environment, Economy, and Equity. These metrics are vital to the sustainability of projects, scholars suggest that a balance may not be achievable as tradeoffs inherently exist between the three E’s. This research focuses on a 2012 urban revitalization project; CollegeTown in Tallahassee, Florida located between two major universities. This research asks: How sustainable is the recent CollegeTown development based on the three E’s? The researchers used Geographic Information Systems to analyze a decade of parcel level data in combination with Environmental metrics from Google's Project Solar, real estate information from the property appraiser’s office, and Equity data on demographic characteristics and income distributions from the U.S. Census. Research suggests implementing solar energy in CollegeTown would reduce carbon emissions by 7.3 metric tons, enhancing air quality and decreasing CollegeTown’s greenhouse gasses. Total property values have nearly doubled, from $489 million in 2006 to $861 million in 2019. In terms of equity, only 7% of households in CollegeTown experienced income levels greater than $35,000 per household and a median of $8,319 in 2010. By 2019, this figure had grown to 20.5%, median household incomes growing to $11,511. Future development strategies should aim to increase the level of equity in the CollegeTown area.

Keywords: Sustainability, Development, Demographics

BIO

Hi! My name is Joshua Smith and I am a student at Florida State University. I am a CNA in my free time, I like to bake and I am also in Air Force ROTC. I aspire to become a trauma physician in the Air Force one day.

The Mark of a Woman

Abstract

Women across the globe are not recognized for their astounding work and now is the time that they received their recognition. This project is focused on how well Indian women are portrayed as actors. I find the movies they have participated in, the movie interviews, and articles to help gather how much work goes on behind the scenes to illustrate that minority women are not given the credibility they deserve. ​

Keywords: Religion, films, gender studies

BIO

I am a first year student at Florida State University from Sarasota, Florida. I am interested in history, archives, and computer science. I was interested in the UROP program because I wanted to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day tasks of an archivist, as this was my intended career goal. In my research project, I worked with my team to scan, organize, and analyze a collection of over 30,000 slides. Because I am now looking toward computer science as my area of focus,
I plan to seek out future research opportunities revolving around the field.

The Retail Experience in Musuems

Abstract

During the scanning and creation of a database for over 30,000 historical slides, the visualization of the museum experience and its impact on the retail experience, manifested as gift shops, was observed. Portraying the museum gift shop as an extension of the exhibitions allows engagement with the museum to continue in the eyes of the visitor (McIntyre 2010). By analyzing the differences within the museum displays depicted in a sample of slides from the collection, the varying approaches to digital gift shops were measured through a pre-existing set of characteristics developed by researchers Volker Kirchberg and Martin Tröndle. Gift shops provide visitors with the unique ability to interact with the artwork being displayed in a museum. Curating the retail environment to visitors creates a source of subtle, but direct, representation for them (McLean 1998). Bridging the past with the present is a leading goal in museums. Because of this, this project argues that when products at a museum gift shop align with the leading identity of its visitors, the museum will experience an increase in engagement, defined by attendance. The findings presented allow for future adaptions in the gift shop experience.

Keywords: Museum, archive, retail

BIO

Chloe Wain is a third year student at Florida State University in the Honors Program pursuing a Dual Degree with majors in Political Science, Editing, Writing, & Media, & Economics with a minor in Spanish. She has pursued leadership, research, and service opportunities to prepare for a career in public service as a Public Defender. As a Legal Intern with do Campo & Thornton, Chloe assisted in representing victims of international terrorism by achieving victim compensation through heavily sanctioning violent terrorism regimes. As an Investigative Intern at the Leon County Public Defender’s Office, Chloe assists in advocating on the behalf of indigent defendants accused of misdemeanors through client in-takes. Involvements at Florida State University includes serving as an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Leader & the Appellate Committee of the Academic Honor Policy, Institute of Politics, Global Scholars Program, Honors Legal Scholars Program, & Garnet & Gold Key Leadership Honorary. Chloe has been nominated by Florida State University for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship & the President's Annual Humanitarian of the Year Award. She will be serving as a Trial Investigator with the Public Defender Services for the District of Columbia in Summer of 2023.

A Case Study of “Just Compensation” in Tallahassee, Florida

Abstract

Residential displacement resulting from large public infrastructure projects can lead to the demolition of close-knit, working class neighborhoods. Such displacement often disproportionately undermines the social and cultural fabrics of Black communities. Local and state governments employ the right of eminent domain to acquire private property for public purposes such as infrastructure and economic development projects. Governments are mandated to provide “just compensation” in the form of moving and relocation benefits to displaced owners and renters of demolished properties. Past literature examines appropriate amounts of compensation for displaced constituents under local, state, and federal requirements to ensure private property rights are protected. This study examines “just compensation” practices by focusing on the displacement of a vulnerable historically Black neighborhood in Tallahassee, Florida. The research evaluates the appropriateness of compensation payments by comparing previously compiled renter compensation agreements to applicable federal regulations, such as: the Universal Relocation Act and the Fair Housing Act. Preliminary findings indicate the City of Tallahassee and Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, a joint city-county agency, failed to appropriately apply United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s federal standards. As compensation levels vary based on funding sources, policymakers should be informed about varying compensation standards, provide incentives to empower local citizens to actively participate in government proceedings, and advocate to protect federal standards to encourage the preservation of historically Black neighborhoods.

Keywords: Economics, Eminent Domain, Compensation

BIO

I am a mathematics major from Virginia Beach, Virginia with the goal of becoming a research mathematician. Currently, my academic interests are in algebra and artificial intelligence. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, hiking, and hanging out with my friends. You can find more information about me on my website (<a href="https://iannbridges.com"> click here!</a>)

Tilings of Three Dimensional Deficient Rectangles with L-Tetrominoes

Abstract

We consider three dimensional iterations of the L-tetrominoe. We show that three dimensional rectangles missing one square, called deficient rectangles, can be tiled as long as they satisfy two conditions: minimum side length 3, and all sides are congruent to 1 (mod 4) or two sides that are congruent to 3 (mod 4) and one side is 1 (mod 4).

Keywords: mathematics tiling proofs algebra number

BIO

Sydney Gross is a first-year accounting student from Allen, TX. The UROP program was an incredible experience for her to develop her skills in data analysis, Stata, and Tableau. Her research interests include insurance and accounting, and she plans to stay involved in undergraduate research throughout her time at Florida State University. After completing her Master's in Accounting, Sydney plans to pursue a career in public accounting and attain her CPA certification. Outside of UROP, she serves as the Honors Student Association's Big/Little Event Chair and a Service Leadership Seminar Facilitator, and is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, Women in Accounting, and Omicron Delta Kappa.

The Affordable Care Act in Rural Areas

Abstract

In 2012, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted. State-level marketplaces were created where individuals could obtain government subsidized health insurance. As the 10 year Anniversary approaches the launching of these ACA exchanges, this project aims to evaluate the successes and failures of the marketplaces. This investigation involves a compilation of data from the ACA Marketplaces beginning in 2014 until most recent data from the 2022 open enrollment period. This study will explore how the ACA marketplaces have impacted rural areas. We expect the ACA exchanges to have been least successful in rural areas. Focusing on silver plans offered in rural counties, the change in cost and competition will be analyzed to determine how effective the marketplaces are in such areas. Methods to evaluate this include a comparison of available plans in different rating areas within the state, and a comparison of how the plans shifted overtime. Furthermore, other health and census data support the exploration of the success of insurance marketplaces in low income areas. This project adds significant value as it is difficult for many people to obtain healthcare in rural areas. By observing how availability and cost has shifted in various rural rating areas, the success of the exchanges can be evaluated. The results will be used to evaluate the current state of the affordable healthcare policies in America, and will determine where additional progress can be made in order to support the U.S. population.

Keywords: business, insurance, affordable care act, rural healthcare, policy

BIO

Hi! My name is Keilly Miranda Torres, and I am a second-year Junior at Florida State. I am from Miami, Fl, and am planning to pursue a Juris Doctorate after I graduate. My interests in equity and human rights are what led me to this project and the law system in general. I have been working on the project directed by Mrs. Rose Archer throughout this semester in order to find maternal health disparieties and inequities amongst the Gadsden County birthing community; I plan to continue my involvement in UROP next year by becoming a leader and I look forward to teaching the next group of Undergraduate Researchers!

Gadsden County and the Politics of Birthing Spaces: The Making of an Invisible Maternity Care Desert

Abstract

With there being an increased interest in maternity care deserts, there has been less emphasis on how such framings may render certain communities invisible. Although Gadsden County, Florida, is not considered a maternity care desert, many of its community members still experience it as such. The present study aims to investigate the trajectory of maternal healthcare in Gadsden County for Black birthing persons. It divulges birthing narratives, examining what such experiences mean for the community and birthing care for African American birthing persons as a whole. By conducting semi-structured interviews, this study aims to capture the social processes that impact one’s ability to seek and navigate care within a perceived maternity care desert. The study is divided into two groups: Black birthing residents (n=26) and reproductive health advocates and professionals (n=14).
Many respondents within the study share birthing stories that detail forms of obstetric violence and perceived racial discrimination. Furthermore, several professionals acknowledge that there is a history of bias in the medical care system. These biases directly impact African American individuals, especially those in marginalized communities. The study reveals several emergent themes among members of the community, including how they are naming barriers to care, resisting barriers to care, and cultivating health equity. Although this study is not designed to be generalizable since it is a qualitative case study situated in Gadsden County, further research is still needed to explore how other marginalized communities navigate the ever shifting landscape of maternal healthcare within the U.S.

Keywords: inequities, birthing, maternal, healthcare, disparities

BIO

Hannah just completed her sophomore year in the Honors College program at FSU and will be a rising junior in the fall. While participating in UROP, she joined José's team to test two competing hypotheses about the psychological processes driving punishment behavior. Post-UROP, Hannah plans on continuing her research journey with José to ultimately apply the psychology principles she learns through his research to her dream career as a critical care physician’s assistant. Along with completing prerequisites for her Biology degree and the PA master’s program, you will find Hannah volunteering with FSU’s Medical Response Unit or re-watching Criminal Minds for the fifteenth time.

Group Cooperation and Punishment

Abstract

Punishment is useful for increasing group cooperation and reducing selfish behavior. However, many questions remain regarding the psychological and cognitive processes that drive punishing behavior. The current research tests two competing hypotheses regarding the processes behind punishment: (1) punishment relies on relatively automatic processes (2) punishment relies on relatively deliberate processes. To test these hypotheses, participants played the role of “punisher” and were placed in either a time pressure (prime intended to cause relatively automatic processing) or a time delay (prime intended to cause relatively deliberative processing) experimental condition. Results suggest that, during the first trial, participants in the time pressure condition punished more than individuals in the time delay condition. However, across all eight trials, this observed effect was no longer present. Secondary analyse examined the potentially moderating roles of individual differences in dominance and prestige. We found that the main effect of dominance orientation, not prestige orientation, on punishment decision-making was positive. Additionally, a significant interaction between prestige and condition, not dominance and condition, was recorded. These findings suggest that, when individuals are provided time to deliberate, the decision to punish may not be chosen, allowing the uncooperative behavior exhibited by a selfish individual to go unaddressed. While dominance-orientated individuals appear to punish a selfish individual regardless of the time allotted, prestige-orientated individuals may only make such a decision after deliberation. While punishment can be a costly behavior, it is a necessary decision as there may be circumstances that disincentivize individuals from punishment decision-making that must be addressed.

Keywords: Psychology, Cooperation, Punishment, Decision-Making

BIO

I have always had a passion for music, writing, and theatre. I am interested in exploring the field of neuroscience as I continue my undergraduate career, particularly in the portions where it intersects with our everyday lives. Issues such as social justice, mental illness, and other prolific aspects of everyday life are things that are important not only to the field of neuroscience but to the world, and I hope that in contributing to this body of knowledge I can better both the field and the world.

Examining how Pain Perception is Impacted by Race of the Aggressor

Abstract

White individuals tend to perceive Black individuals as more threatening and more capable of harm compared to other White individuals. Possibly due to this Black-threat association, people also tend to perceive an aggressive act as more violent when committed by a Black compared to a White individual. However, it is unclear whether pain perception changes based on the race of the person causing the pain. The present work intends to explore whether race of the aggressor has an impact on an individual’s perception of pain. Participants will engage in a task with a gender-matched Black or White confederate. Throughout the task, participants receive a shock from the confederate and will be asked to rate the perceived pain for each shock. Based on previous work, it is hypothesized that participants will perceive the shocks received by a Black confederate as more painful compared to shocks received by a White confederate. The current work will provide insight into how racial biases directly impact perceptions of one’s behaviors.

Keywords: Race, Pain, Perception

BIO

My name is Allyson May and I am from Palm Harbor, Florida. I am currently majoring in Public Health applying to the Nursing Program next fall. I enjoy working out, hanging with my friends, and taking some time for myself!

The Effect of Nasal versus Oral Breathing on Heart Rate at Rest and During Exercise 

Abstract

Background: Previous research suggests that breathing through the nose can cause calmness and lower blood pressure compared to breathing through the mouth. This study focuses on the difference between nasal breathing and mouth breathing at rest, during submaximal exercise, and maximal exercise. In this study, we expect heart rate to be lower during nasal breathing than with mouth breathing during exercise and at rest.
Methods: We tested 10 healthy individuals. On average, they were 18 (+ or - 2 years) and a BMI between 18-30 kg/m^2. We recorded participants' heart rate, breathing rate during rest and exercise.
Results: Across both samples of graphs with nasal and mouth breathing, there was an increase in heart rate during mouth breathing at rest and during submaximal exercise. The mean for nasal breathing during rest is 73.5 and the standard deviation is 12.1. For mouth breathing at rest, the mean is 73.6 and the standard deviation is 11.6. The mean for nasal breathing during submaximal exercise is 136 and the standard deviation is 18.5. For mouth breathing during submaximal exercise, the mean is 136.4 and the standard deviation is 19.2.
Conclusions: Our preliminary findings demonstrate that there is a heavier workload when breathing through the mouth, which increases heart rate compared to nasal breathing. Moreover, there is a slight difference between heart rate during mouth breathing than nasal breathing during exercise when comparing the mean from the average heart rate from each mechanism.

Keywords: Nasal Versus Mouth Heart Rate

BIO

William Dhana is an undergraduate researcher and biology student at Florida State University. Originally from Palm Beach County, he spends his free time enjoying hobbies like soccer, snorkeling, and volunteering. William is particularly passionate about research and has a strong interest in pursuing medicine, with a focus on oncology. In the future, he hopes to work with children as a pediatric oncologist and make a difference in their lives.

Using Bacteria to Remove Carcinogens From Water

Abstract

1,4-Dioxane was commonly used as a stabilizer of chlorinated solvents and as a solvent in several commercial and industrial processes, leading to widespread groundwater contaminations. 1,4-Dioxane is a toxic chemical compound with potential carcinogenic effects. The unique physical and chemical properties of 1,4-dioxane have created challenges in efficiently removing it from water. Bioremediation is a promising method for treating 1,4-dioxane contaminated water as it is potentially cost-effective and eco-friendly. This study explores the use of bacterial cultures to degrade 1,4-dioxane and assesses the effectiveness of different cultures. Two 1,4-dioxane-degrading cultures, CL1 and WCD1, were enriched by periodically spiking 1,4-dioxane at 100 mg/L. The results demonstrate that the two bacterial cultures were able to effectively degrade 1,4-dioxane under aerobic conditions. Six pure cultures CL1A, CL1B, CL1C, WCD1A, WCD1B, and WCD1C were isolated by using agar plating. The isolated cultures will be monitored for their ability to degrade 1,4-dioxane. The cultures will be identified and characterized by using partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The findings from this study are expected to contribute in developing efficient means of treatment for this persistent environmental pollutant.

Keywords: Biodegradation Bioremediation Bacteria Carcinogen Contaminant

BIO

My name is Hannah Grace Lee and I am from Sarasota, Florida. I am a second-year student at FSU pursuing a degree in cell/molecular neuroscience. Upon graduation in the summer of 2024, I plan on attending a graduate program in microbiology.

A Mediation Analysis of Barriers to Affirmative Consent Adherence

Abstract

Affirmative consent implies an enthusiastic and verbal “yes,” for sexual activities to be truly consensual. In our current culture, consent is often missed, or lack of a verbal “no,” is understood as consent. The aim of this pilot study is to understand the barriers to affirmative consent adherence in our current culture, including script use in a traditional social exchange ideology, meaning that we have preconceived scripts for different social situations. The methods we have employed are using a cognitive flexibility task switching paradigm, surveys, and vignettes to understand participants' attitudes towards gender roles, “hook-ups,” and consent attitudes and behaviors. Using mediation analyses, we will observe whether any statistically significant correlations exist between each inventory taken and affirmative consent adherence. Our results have illustrated that two of our six vignettes produced statistically significant data correlating traditional social exchange ideology with affirmative consent adherence and cognitive flexibility with affirmative consent adherence. Additionally, two vignettes produced significant data correlating certain communication style subscales with affirmative consent adherence. Ultimately, our conclusion is that the results of this pilot study emphasize the complexities of sexual communication. Our results indicate that affirmative consent barriers arise most significantly when consent is given non-verbally. Thus, verbal communication is crucial to the attainment of true consent. This truth is important when consent is often bypassed in our modern culture with the lack of a verbal, “no.”

Keywords: consent social psychology communication

BIO

I am a second year student from Tallahassee. I am primarily interested in genetics and the different computational methods that can be applied to analyze them. I am hoping to continue studying computational biology in graduate school after leaving FSU.

Evaluating Genomic Variation

Abstract

In a recently patented method, polymerase chain reaction is possible using only one primer.
The method uses two common adapter sequences and a primer designed to match a repetitive element from a genome. A particular primer can be designed to target a particular number of loci. The focus of this study was to apply a computer program to several example genomes to isolate the best candidate primers. The candidate primers had to meet several requirements including an appropriate melting temperature, length, mapability of flanking regions, and expected number of loci. A maximum of 20 candidate primers were selected for each genome. Some of the primers have been tested, but future work is needed to demonstrate that the theoretical results match the experimental results across species. If the experimental values verify that the primer selection method works as expected, then in the future the method could be applied for less expensive gene sequencing, forensics, as well as paternity tests.

Keywords: Genome, Primer,

BIO

My name is Emma Gassman, and I'm a freshman studying biological science on the Pre-Med track. I'm from Deerfield, Illinois, a suburb just north of Chicago! I'm interested in pursuing a career in medicine, possibly in the area of women's health or a pediatrics specialty. My research interests include areas of women's health, such as maternal care and lactation, alongside the workings of global and American healthcare systems, cognitive neuroscience, and epidemiology. Aside from UROP, I'm involved with some other organizations on campus, such as the women's club soccer team, the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), and the Medical Response Unit.

Exploring Apparel Options for NICU Mothers: Development of a Nursing and Kangaroo Care Garment System

Abstract

Kangaroo Care and breastfeeding are important steps in a mother’s postpartum journey with her infant. There are numerous physical and psychological benefits to both the mother and infant when initiating this type of care. In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), these benefits are even more important as NICU infants often require extra medical intervention to become healthy, and these interventions can sometimes isolate them from the mother. When facilitating this care, mothers sometimes struggle due to the infant’s more fragile state. Few garments exist to help facilitate both breastfeeding and kangaroo care for premature infants. To understand the aspects such a garment would require, we researched current products on the market and compared them to past research conducted on breastfeeding and kangaroo care. From this data, we designed a prototype garment via the 4 stage design process. This process included the problem identification, conceptualization, prototype, and solution of a garment. We then constructed this final garment based on the user needs we concluded were most important: compression fabric with the ability to stretch, temperature cooling, durability and weight bearing, adjustable sizing, access to breasts, and compatibility with medical devices. By creating an easy-to-use breastfeeding and kangaroo care garment, more mothers will take part in this important postpartum step, improving the physical and emotional health of future generations of mothers and their infants.

Keywords: NICU, breastfeeding, apparel

BIO

James Hudson IV is an accomplished student pursuing a dual degree in Computer Engineering and Business Management with a minor in STEM Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Florida State University. He is a Presidential Scholar and member of the FSU Honors program. His research interests include technology, information, and education. He has experience in Python, Java, and HTML. He enjoys traveling, tennis, Star Wars, procrastination, and half glasses of water.

Enhancing the Feedback Experience for Instructors and Students

Abstract

One of the hardest tasks of an instructor is to provide high quality timely feedback about student writing. This is particularly true in writing about a technical subject, where students may have problems with either the technical content or expressing their ideas through language, figures and tables. In addition, if the instructor uses a grader or teaching assistant to provide feedback, they need to train those graders to provide feedback that is consistent with the instructor’s feedback.

In this project, we are creating a feedback system. This system consists of a database of feedback elements, which can be grouped into palettes for specific assignments. The system would then act as a plug-in to a word processor that allows a grader to select text and associate feedback elements with the text. An interchange format will allow instructors to share feedback elements, and eventually, computer-assisted feedback will allow the word processor to identify possible areas of feedback. Feedback elements can be tied to rubrics, to provide automatic grading that can be verified by the instructor. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to enhance the feedback experience for instructors, their teaching assistants, and students.

Keywords: 1. High-quality timely Feedback 2. Evidenced-Centered Classroom Assessment 3. Feedback Pallet 4. Rubric associated notes 5. Measuring student performance

BIO

Hello! My name is Anna and I am a sophomore studying biological science and Chinese language and culture here at Florida State. I am an out-of-state student from Madison, Wisconsin.

Exploring Human Exploitation of Nature in Florida Through 20th Century Postcards

Abstract

Postcards present a unique opportunity to explore human exploitation of nature in Florida. Although the effects of human exploitation have been studied in individual areas, there have not been notable efforts to analyze commonalities spanning multiple Floridian locations through the use of postcards, which act as a way to visually chronicle these issues. The Florida State University Card Archive was utilized to create categories of investigation based on general themes observed in postcards. Further examination was carried out on specific cards within each category through the use of a coding system on Excel. Secondary research was also conducted to gather additional details about the locations featured in each card. The majority of these cards fell into one or both of two main areas: tourism and agriculture. Evidence of these two types of exploitation could be seen across cards showcasing locations such as Wakulla Springs, the Everglades, Disney World, Silver Springs, Tarpon Springs, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. An exploration of Floridian postcards depicting exploitation of nature lends noteworthy insight on how areas in Florida have been impacted by human encroachment, and thus highlight many relevant environmental issues that are yet to be resolved.

Keywords: postcards, nature, tourism, Florida

BIO

Hello! My name is Kyle Lam and I am a first-year student from Chicago, Illinois majoring in statistics and actuarial science with plans on pursuing a career as an actuary.

Price Variations in Health Insurance Marketplaces

Abstract

Pricing for health insurance plans vary based on numerous factors including age of the beneficiary, location, unique insurers/total number of plans offered in the area, and plan type. In this project, we investigated price variations and potential correlations between insurance plans offered in state marketplaces for twenty-seven year olds. This specific age was chosen for analyses as at twenty-seven, most dependents have been released from their parents’ insurance plans.

Keywords: Statistics, Insurance, Data