IlT AMP Scholar Presents Research at National Conference

Technology News, Volume 137, Number 4, September 19, 1994

by Staff

Web format and photo @ by Prof. P. Johnson

IlT AMP Scholar Presents Research at National Conference In August, Cheryl Hyman, a junior in Computer Science, traveled to Birmingham, Alabama to attend the Student Conference and Scientific Exhibit hosted by the Alabama Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP). Cheryl, as an AMP Undergraduate Research Scholar, has been working since the spring of 1994 under the direction of George Smith in the Computer Science Department. At the conference, she made a poster presentation of her preliminary research findings entitled, "Evaluating the Effectiveness of "Q-Gen Computer-based Quizzing as a Learning Tool." Her research focuses on evaluating and improving the help available for students in beginning computer science courses by means of realtime, computerized quizzing, redesigned labs and handouts,and peer tutoring. Cheryl was one of three students representing the Chicago AMP coalition which is comprised of local universities including Chicago State University, DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Debra Dunn, a biology major from Loyola University, and Dana Underwood, an engineering major from Northwestern University,

Prof. Johnson in Alabama with ChAMP Scholars Debra, Dana, and Cheryl also presented results of their research. Their poster presentations were entitled. "The Native Siderophore of a Siderophore-Catabolizing Bacterium" and "Phase Separation of Copolymer Alloys." Accompanying Cheryl, Debra, and Dana were Dr. Peter Johnson, Professor of Chemistry and Principle Investigator for the IIT AMP and Cheryl Caplan, Director of ETC and IIT AMP Programs Coordinator. While one of the most recently established AMP sites, the Chicago AMP group walked away with one of the first place prizes for student research. One of the long-term goals of this NSF-sponsored program, funded at S4.9 million over five years, is to dramatically increase the number of science, math, and engineering minority faculty in the next decade. An undergraduate research experlence is often a major factor in a student's decision to pursue graduate school and to become a college professor. Cheryl Hyman became interested in her topic of research after taking CS 200 and observing that many students, particularly those who had entered IIT underprepared for a rigorous scientific curriculum, needed additional individualized help in order to succeed. Cheryl's research has strengthened her desire to pursue an advanced degree and her experience in Birmingham, Alabama, where she met several prominent educators and NSF administrators, has been an enriching experience. She encourages other studentsto give undergraduate research a try. Applications for AMP undergraduate research scholarships con be obtained at ETC.

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