Models for scoring cell respiration explanations are accurate across institution types
In a study led by Dr. Megan Shiroda, the group compared model accuracy across responses provided by students at community college, primarily undergraduate institutions and research intensive universities and found that models scored new student explanations at similar accuracy rates as when developed and no significant differences between institution types.
Partnering with SimBio for study on Cell Respiration
Recently, the AACR group partnered with SimBio to investigate undergraduate learning in biology. Results from that study are now published!
STEM for All Video Showcase 2021
Check out an AACR collaborative project in the 2021 STEM for All Video showcase!
Session at MSU Spring Conference
Researchers from the AACR group are hosting a facilitated discussion as part of the MSU Spring Conference on Teaching, Learning and Student Success. Come see how tools developed by our research efforts can be applied in your classroom and inform your teaching!
Undergraduate researcher presents AACR project
Nicholas Yoshida, an undergraduate researcher with the group presented his work at an undergraduate research forum in April.
Sessions at NARST 2021 Conference
The AACR research group will be presenting some of their work at several different sessions at the NARST 2021 Annual International Conference. Come see what we've been working on!
AACR session at AAC&U Transforming STEM Higher Education
Researchers from the AACR group at MSU are hosting a facilitated discussion as part of the AAC&U virtual conference on Transforming STEM Higher Education
AACR paper highlighted by scientific society websites
A recent paper from the AACR group has been featured in several scientific society and popuar science websites.
AACR new collaboration in environmental education
The Automated Analysis of Constructed Response research group is beginning a new collaboration with researchers, Dr. Chelsie Romulo and Dr.
AACR presentations at AAPT conference
Xiaoming Zhai presents AACR work about scientific argumentation at AAPT 2020 conference
Undergraduate Researchers at UURAF
Three AACR Undergraduate Research students presented posters of their work at the MSU 20th annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) on April 13, 2018.
AACR Featured on Teach Better Podcast
Mark Urban-Lurain, AACR PI, was interviewed about the AACR project on the Teach Better Podcast. Doug McKee and Edward O’Neill talk with Mark about how AACR uses machine learning to evaluate and analyze free text answers in order to shed new light on student understanding and misconceptions.
Machine Learning featured in Science
Rachel Yoho, a postdoctoral researcher in the Automated Analysis of Constructed Response research group, was a contributor to a Science letters article about the possibilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning in science. Rachel's contribution focused on the efforts of the AACR group to use machine learning to evaluate student writte
Active learning lesson at University of Maine supported by AACR
Faculty at the University of Maine have developed active-learning lessons targeted at the central dogma of molecular biology. This project was led by Michelle Smith, an AACR PI at the University of Maine, and involved faculty supported by AACR faculty learning communities!
AACR Research Group receives $450,000 NSF Award
On August 29, 2016, the Automated Analysis of Constructed Response (AACR) Research Group received $450,000 as part of a $1.5M NSF award for their proposal Collaborative Research: ArguLex - Applying Automated Analysis to a Learning Progression for Argumentation. The 3 year award will support investigating applying the AACR techniques for computeriz
Alex Mazur awarded undergraduate research prize for AACR project
Congratulations to Alexandria (Alex) Mazur, an undergraduate researcher in the AACR research group! Alex won a First Place Award for her oral presentation in the Education strand at the MSU University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF).
AACR at MSU Mid-SURE Event
AACR undergraduate researcher Alex Mazur presented her poster Student Writing Reveals Misconceptions in the Central Dogma of Biology at the Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences (Mid-SURE) held at MSU on July 22.
AACR PI Paula Lemons presenting invited talk at King's College, London
Automated Analysis of Constructed Response (AACR) Principal Investigator Paula Lemons (University of Georgia) is giving an invited talk, Designing Research-Based Learning Environments for Students and Faculty, on February 4, 2015 for the Science and Technology Education Group in the Department of Education and Professional Studies at King’s College, London, UK.
University of Maine AACR faculty featured in NSF Discovery
Michelle Smith, AACR PI, and Farahad Dastoor, AACR Faculty Learning Community member, both from the University of Maine, are featured in an NSF discovery item: Rules of engagement: Transforming the teaching of college-level science. Congratulations Michelle and Farahad!
$750K NSF Award for AACR and BSCS collaboration
Members of the MSU AACR team (Mark Urban-Lurain, PI; John Merrill, co-PI and Kevin Haudek, co-PI) and collaborators from BSCS in Colorado have received an award totaling $750,000 from the National Science Foundation to extend the AACR work into reseach on K-12 science teachers pedagogical content knowledge. The project, Collaborative Research: PCK*Lex – Applying Computerized Lexical Analysis to Develop a Cost-Effective Measure of Science Teacher Pedagogical Content Knowledge runs for three years.
AACR paper in ASEE "Best of Computers in Education" Division
A paper describing the AACR research project has been placed in the "Best of Computers in Education Division" at the ASEE Annual Conference. The paper describes the AACR III research project and its future expansion plans. Mark Urban-Lurain, a principal investigator in the AACR project, presented this work in a conference session on Tuesday, June 17.
Initial national meeting of AACR FLCs
On the weekend of May 17-18, 2014, a total of 29 faculty participants, project principal investigators and post doctoral researchers participated in an AACR project "FLC kick-off" meeting and workshop in Detroit, MI. A goal of this meeting was to introduce faculty participants to one another and research project staff. By meeting in-person, the faculty have a basis for their future "virtual" connection with each other.
Weston wins undergraduate research award for AACR project
Congratulations to Michele Weston, an undergraduate researcher in the AACR research group! Michele won a First Place Award in the Education strand at the MSU University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF).
Recent paper from Nehm's group highlighted
A recent research article published from Ross Nehm's group at SUNY-Stony Brook is highlighted in the journals New Republic and Science.
New Republic story: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/115840/computers-grade-essays-well-humans-study.
AACR III project kick-off
Members of the AACR research group met on Nov. 2 and 3 in Dearborn, MI to kickoff activities of a recently funded NSF collaborative project (read more here). In total, there were 14 attendees, which included all project PIs, from eight universities.
NSF grants awarded to AACR research group
The Automated Analysis of Constructed Response (AACR) research group has received two National Science Foundation grants totaling $5.7 million, funds that will utilize computer software to analyze student writing in science and engineering classes.