Rose State Professors Recognized By Oklahoma Association Of Community Colleges For Drone Based Approach To Mathematical Applications Published January 12, 2021

Rose State professors Dr. Chuang Shao and Steven Fowler were selected as one of two top submissions to the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC) Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) Program. 

Professors Shao and Fowler developed a math based approach to studying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAV’s to help students link abstract mathematical theory to real world applications. This idea stemmed from a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The project is a collaborative effort between Rose State College and The University of Oklahoma to increase UAV competency within our engineering and technology students.  One of several goals for the NSF funded project is to integrate UAV theory into mathematics courses taken by engineering and technology students.  

Through this experimental practice, students experienced productive struggles.  However, all of the students indicated this Special Topics course was a unique and fun college experience.  It provided a deeper level of math and science understanding, and it has been a great application of the growth mindset.  At the end of the semester, as they looked back, they were truly learning how to do research in math and science and how to start and accomplish their own projects.  Students were able to transfer to Universities to continue their studies; one of the participants received undergraduate admission to UC Berkley.

Professors Shao and Fowler will be presenting their submission “Developing Concrete Examples of Mathematics by Forming a Multidisciplinary Learning Community” during a breakout session at an upcoming OACC conference on January 29.