Philip Hultin Pedagogy Fund

Madison Egan, Instructor I

Department: Microbiology
Email: Madison.Wright@umanitoba.ca
Project title: Innovating MBIO 1010 labs

Summary of the project

Through the Faculty of Science Endowment Fund, we were fortunate to receive a set of multichannel pipettes to bring high throughput techniques into our first-year microbiology labs. The major focus of this project will be to support the incorporation of these tools into our MBIO 1010 labs. You will be supporting testing the feasibility of different lab protocols using these multichannel pipettes for our first-year lab and creating resources for students to support their skill development. If time permits, this student may also have an opportunity to contribute to an ongoing teaching research project for the MBIO 1010 labs designed to assess the impact of teamwork on individual skill development and perceptions of the importance of collaboration in the field of microbiology.

Az Klymiuk, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Scholar in Science

Department: Biological Sciences
Email: Az.Klymiuk@umanitoba.ca
Project title: BIOL 2260: Biology of fungi

Summary of the project

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide students with experiential training in hypothesis building and experimental design, as well as data collection and analysis. CUREs can expand upon classic laboratory exercises in that they are often designed to interrogate genuine research questions, allowing undergraduate students to participate in discovery or applied science. I propose to develop a CURE project to be implemented in BIOL 2260, wherein students would test the bioremediation capabilities of a variety of culturable saprotrophic basidiomycetes. For instance, Pleuorotus ostreatus has been investigated for its capacity to bioremediate a variety of environmental contaminants ranging from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to heavy metals. Other saprotrophic fungi have been investigated more sporadically. In the course of the proposed CURE, students would investigate primary literature to generate hypotheses, and test the efficacy of a diverse array of cultured lines. Student-led sub-experiments would be designed cohesively, so as to provide survey data through multi-year implementation of this investigation. A Philip Hultin pedagogy award would support development of the CURE framework. The successful applicant to this project would a) collect, identify and culture common saprotrophic fungi for use as experimental organisms, and b) develop experimental methods for analyzing bioremediation capacity in the context of an undergraduate teaching lab.

Az Klymiuk, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Scholar in Science and Kevin Fraser, Associate Professor

Department: Biological Sciences
Email: Az.Klymiuk@umanitoba.ca, Kevin.Fraser@umanitoba.ca  
Project title: Biological collections for educational display, teaching and outreach

Summary of the project

The Biological Sciences Department houses a large collection of avian, mammal, fish, herptile, invertebrate, cryptogam and vascular plant specimens. We are seeking a student to lead the taxonomic organization and labelling of specimens as well as the creation of dynamic displays using specimens in the collection to enhance their use in teaching and outreach activities. This project will be advised by Az Klymiuk, assistant professor and Kevin Fraser, associate professor. We invite applications from students enrolled in a degree program in the biological sciences. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to apply.

Celine Latulipe, Professor and Lauren Himbeault, Instructor I

Department: Computer Science
Email: Celine.Latulipe@umanitoba.ca, Lauren.Himbeault@umanitoba.ca
Project title: Expansion of Java Trinkets Active Learning Workbook

Summary of the project

In 2024 we created the Java Active Learning workbook on the Trinkets platform through an OER grant. This book is being used for in-class active learning in COMP 1020. In this project, we will expand the workbook to cover more basic Java coding so that it can also be used in the earlier course (COMP 1010) and help with the transition for students who enter COMP 1020 from COMP 1012 (those students have not learned any Java). This resource can also be used in Coding Bootcamps offered by CS student groups and will continue to be a free and open resource available to students worldwide. The student who works on this project will help to create new trinket activities as well as test and refine existing activities, under the supervision of Latulipe and Himbeault.

Danielle Pahud, Instructor II

Department: Physics and Astronomy
Email: Danielle.Pahud@umanitoba.ca
Project title: Pedagogy in the planetarium

Summary of the project

Every year, thousands of people and hundreds of students come to planetarium shows. The planetarium is capable of live or pre-recorded shows. Pedagogical research shows that active learning methodologies improve knowledge building and retention of material. Come work on developing active learning activities within the planetarium space for different age groups and work on determining their effectiveness.

Danielle Pahud, Instructor II and Tyrone Woods, Assistant Professor

Department: Physics and Astronomy
Email: Danielle.Pahud@umanitoba.ca, Tyrone.Woods@umanitoba.ca
Project title: Pedagogy with a remote observatory

Summary of the project

The Glenlea Astronomical Observatory has recently benefited from a significant modernization thanks to the Faculty of Science Endowment fund. The addition of a new, remotely operated dome and telescope, adds capabilities and accessibility to the observatories. We hope to expand the use of the telescope and the data collected with it, so that it may be used by students in the first year of astronomy courses. In order to accomplish this, learning activities and labs must be developed and tested. Come work on brainstorming observing activities and then work through the activities, gather the data and help implement more modern astronomy into the program.