On August 6, 2024, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $900,000 to Jing Wei Kocis of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute for the estimated three-year project, “Enabling the Next Generation HyFlex Field Lab with an Innovative Learner-in-the-Loop Multi-Robot System.”
Wei Kochisis, an associate professor in the School of Computer and Information Technology (CIT), is the principal investigator on the project, along with co-principal investigators Paul Asunda, Jansung Chang, Byungchol Min, Dongmin Gan, and senior staff member Raghu Athinarayanan. The project aims to “investigate the effectiveness of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies to support inclusive, scalable, and effective collaborative problem-solving (CPS) skills development in STEM education.”
Starting from 1 September 2024, the project will develop knowledge on a novel generative AI-enabled robot-mediated instructional technology, called LILMR (Learner-In-the-Loop Multi-Robot system), to support scalable engagement of distance learners in an innovative HyFlex site-based lab environment and promote effective development of CPS skills within an authentic experiential learning space shared with residential students.
There are three research questions driving this project:
What technological affordances are essential to effectively support the development of CPS skills for both distance and home learners in a HyFlex field-based lab environment? What technological, pedagogical, and logistical supports are needed to foster an engaging HyFlex field-based lab environment and facilitate the development of CPS skills? How can the impact of new learning technologies be assessed in supporting the development of CPS skills for both distance and home learners in a HyFlex field-based lab environment?
The success of this project will contribute significantly to the immediate need to promote diversity and inclusion and expand participation in CPS skills development. The project will also significantly advance our understanding of innovative technology-enabled solutions that effectively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM education.
The project is funded by the Research in Innovative Technologies for Reinforcement Learning (RITEL) program, which “supports early-stage exploratory research into emerging technologies for teaching and learning.”
“Receiving the NSF award is a tremendous honor for our team,” Wei-Kocsis said. “Our research will revolutionize fieldwork education and pave the way for networked HyFlex laboratories on campus.”
