14TH ANNUAL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SERIES inquiry seminar CELEBRATION of LEARNING APRIL 23, 2019 10 A.M.-4 P.M. GEMMELL MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM Inquiry Seminar CELEBRATION OF LEARNING This event provides first-year students with the opportunity to display and present the inquiry-based research projects completed in their Freshman Inquiry Seminar courses during the spring 2019 semester. Today’s event highlights the work of 200 students enrolled in one of the seven courses listed below. A brief description of the final project in each course is also included below. PAY TO PLAY Dr. Paul Woodburne Students in this course researched questions surrounding ‘monetization’ in the video game industry (the ways gamers and gaming companies make money from the video games). Students worked in groups of five and developed a research question related to any aspect of video game monetization and related areas. Topics may include, but are not limited to: how “free” games make money; the impact of “loot boxes” in games and whether they represent gambling; the life of a professional gamer; whether “modding” (players/ hackers modifying games for fun) constitutes piracy; and similar topics. Given that many aspects of video game monetization have not been the subject of much academic research, students had to work with and assess the credibility of many non-scholarly sources to provide background information related to their question. Students had to synthesize information and present it in a form accessible to readers not well versed in the subject. COMMUNICATING FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION: DO THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND ME? Dr. Bell O’Neil Following an investigation of what is known about grandparent-grandchild communication, students challenged each other’s questions about family communication. Student teams investigated their own research questions by composing literature reviews, developing and administering surveys, analyzing data, synthesizing findings, and drawing conclusions. Finally, a storybook was created from grandparent/grandchild stories regarding students’ personal activities surrounding their relationship with their grandparents. WHY DO I HATE WHAT OTHERS LOVE? Dr. Elizabeth Sauvage-Callaghan In this course, students were asked to examine their own preferences for certain types of music, movies, fashion, etc., in order to answer the question, Why do I hate what others love? They also examined why some preferences are viewed as sophisticated or “classy” and others as less so. For their final projects, students explored these subjects as matters of personal taste to determine why people develop preferences for some things over others. Their project required them to engage in secondary research and to pull that research together on the poster to communicate it to a wider audience. WHERE DO YOU RANK? Dr. Jesse Haight Students in this course individually chose a research question that is answered with a Top Ten List. In addressing the course focus of “Where do you rank,” they were able to construct the ranking while justifying their findings. Tasked with developing selection criteria, the students justified their rankings by identifying their own cognitive bias and using lateral reading to obtain valid sources. The students also field tested their rankings through surveys. Students will present their findings with a poster presentation. WHY DO WE ASK PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE FROM? Dr. Yun Shao In this course, the students explored the various ways the question “Where are you from?” is understood and answered. They considered the question in terms of communication, race, ethnicity, economic status, the social class, ideology, and religion. They students reflected upon how asking and answering the question shapes or changes their perception of themselves and of others, and examined the complex relation between place and identity. For their final project students worked in groups to develop, investigate, and address questions related to the course theme and to issues particular to small rural towns and communities. WHAT CAN POP CULTURE TEACH US? Dr. Kevan Yenerall For their final research project, students worked in groups to develop and research a question on one of two topics: (1) hate groups and racism in modern American or (2) immigration. Their research is inspired by their critical viewing and study of documentary films throughout the course. CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE Dr. Chris McCarrick For their final project, students “picked sides” concerning issues of privilege. Working in teams of two or three, they conducted further research and then debated their findings, one “side” against the other. Leah Chambers, coordinator of Freshman Inquiry Seminars, and the Inquiry Seminar faculty and students would like to thank the following members of the CU faculty, staff and administration for serving as project reviewers at today’s celebration and for supporting undergraduate research. Peggy Apple, Education Erin Lewis, Center for Career and Professional Development Natalie Armstrong, Commcunication Sciences and Disorders Chris McCarrick, English and Modern Languages Bill Bailey, Center for Career and Professional Development Mary Pat McCarthy, Communication Sciences and Disorders Bonita Bailey, Center for First Year Experience Matthew Mullen, Center for First Year Experience Suzie Boyden, Biology and Geosciences Corey Negley, Residence Life Services Diana Brush, Center for Career and Professional Development Cindy Nellis, Small Business Development Center Melissa Brydon, Communication Sciences and Disorders Katy O’Donnell, English and Modern Languages Natasha Dias, Biology and Geosciences Miguel Olivas, Management and Marketing Maria Aiello, TRIO Josh Domitrovich, Center for Career and Professional Development Dani Emings, Center for First Year Experience Ray Feroz, Rehabilitation Sciences Ellen Foster, English and Modern Languages Bell O’Neil, Communication Tonya Otto, Library Services Brandon Packard, Computer Information Science Amy Salsgiver, Office of Social Equity Lacey Fulton, Communication Elisabeth Sauvage-Callaghan, English and Modern Languages YooJin Ha, Library Science Yun Shao, English and Modern Languages Jesse Haight, Education Dan Shifflet, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics Helen Hampikian, Biology and Geosciences Marilyn Harhai, Library Science Steve Harris, Dean, CAES Sue Homan, Learning Technology Center Tyler Kitzmiller, Judicial Affairs Poornima Krishnamurthy, TRIO Rich Lane, English and Modern Languages Todd Lavin, Social Sciences Nripendra Singh, Management and Marketing Kenn Staub, Communication Sciences and Disorders Jessica Thomas, Biology and Geosciences Amanda Willard, Biology and Geosciences Jessica Wolbert, New Student Programs Paul Woodburne, Economics Clarion University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities. See the full statement at clarion.edu/nondiscrimination.