2005-06 WSU Undergraduate Research Grant Application

Cover Sheet

Amount Requested: $3088

Student Information

Project Information

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Student Signature                                                                                                                                Date

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Project Mentor Signature                                                                                                                   Date

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Campus Mail                                         Phone Ext.

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Undergraduate Research Committee Representative                                                                     Date

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Faculty Mentor Department Chair                                                                                                    Date

2005-06 Undergraduate Research Grant Application

Additional Students Form

Student Information

Student Information

Student Information

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Student Signature                                                                                                                                Date

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Student Signature                                                                                                                                Date

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Student Signature                                                                                                                                Date

Project Description:

            The purpose of this proposal is to secure funding to present research findings at the American Dental Educator’s Association’s (ADEA) annual session to be held in Orlando, Florida, March 8 – 11, 2005.  We have submitted an abstract to present a poster of research findings (under the “works-in-progress” category) as well as an application to present with mentor Kami Hanson at the TechExpo.  The TechExpo will allow us to present research outcomes plus demonstrate the mixed-reality technology that we are implementing in our project.  ADEA will notify us of the outcome of our submission during the month of November 2005.

            Two of us, Natalie Jones and Marie Krantz worked this summer 2005 in collaboration with Kami Hanson to develop the technology needed to implement the research project titled: “Techniques for administering local anesthesia utilizing mixed-reality technology.”  During the course of our summer project we kept a log on the project objectives, daily goals and outcomes.  This log can be found at http://augmentedrealityproject.blogspot.com. 

This semester, Fall 2005, our colleague, Heidi Law, has joined us in further development and implementation of the research project.

            Our research questions are as follows:

1)      Will the use of 3-dimensional images allow for a greater understanding of anatomy?

2)      Will students develop conceptual understandings using mixed-reality technology that allows them to direct their own learning?

3)      Will students experience a cycle of trial, error and effect as they interact with the virtual image?

The traditional process of learning local anesthesia takes extensive time because the students cannot see their needle once it penetrates tissues; so, success or failure for anesthesia must be assumed based on what they can imagine instead of what they can actually see.  The benefit of using 3D virtual images is that the student would be able to see their technique for anesthesia from needle penetration to the deposition site of the anesthetic.  This would allow them to experience visual and sensory perceptions and develop relationships between theory and practice, thus minimizing the trial and error process for successful administration of local anesthesia (Winn & Windschitl, 2001).

Proposed Methods:

            Thirty senior dental hygiene students will participate in the research.  Students will be recruited as a convenient sample from, an on-campus course on oral local anesthesia taught at Weber State University.  For the purposes of this research, the focus is on the administration and techniques for two cranial block injections.  These two injections are the most difficult to administer and have the highest degree of complications if administered incorrectly.

            The research will be conducted at Weber State University’s clinical setting using a dental operatory, which includes a dental chair, overhead light, air/water and suction, and other related equipment.  Additionally, materials to support mixed-reality technologies will be present such as head-mounted display (HMD) for the user, a sensor stylus that will be visualized as a virtual syringe.

            Our research method would involve an environment that will allow users to manipulate 3D objects (or images) through the use of a hand-held card that serves as a platform on which to project the 3D objects seen through a head mounted display (HMD) (Shelton & Hedley, 2003; Salzman, et al., 1999).

Research Design & Timeline:

Expected Outcomes:

            The outcomes expected would be for students to move from classroom learning to a real understanding of anatomy as they learn by doing with visual and sensory feedback using our interface.  We hypothesize that this experience will improve their clinical skills for anesthesia.  This research will also be used as a framework for future use of virtual realities for clinical instruction (Barab, et al., 2001).

Dependent_______________________________X___________________________________Independent

(student helping faculty do research)                                                       (student doing own research)

* Student and faculty working together doing research

References:

Barab, S. A., Hay, K. E., Barnett, M. & Squire, K. (2001). Constructing virtual worlds: Tracing the historical development of learner practices. Cognition and Instruction, 19(1), 47-94.

Salzman, M., Dede, C., Loftin, R. B., & Chen, J. (1999). A model for understanding how virtual reality aids complex conceptual learning. Presence, 8(3), 293-316. Retrieved on February 1, 2004 from EBSCOhost databases.

Shelton, B. E. & Hedley, N. R. (2003). Exploring a cognitive basis for learning spatial relationships with augmented reality. Technology, Instruction, Cognition and Learning (in press). Retrieved on January 16, 2004 from it.usu.edu/~bshelton/courses/ar_cog_ticl.doc.

Winn, W. D. & Windschitl, M. (2001). Learning in artificial environments. Cybernertics and Human Knowing. 8(4), 5-23. Retrieved on January 15, 2004 from depts.washington.edu/edtech/chk.html.

Budget Narrative:

We realized that undergraduate research will only cover a maximum of $3,000, and the remaining balanced will be covered out of pocket. Estimated airfare for three students to travel to Orlando, FL is $510 per ticket roundtrip, so the total cost will be $1,530.  

The ADEA conference will be held at the Walt Disney World Dolphin & Swan Hotel.  Each room costs $224 per night.  The three students will be sharing one room for three nights for a total cost of $672.  The hotel also requires a resort fee of $5/night totaling $15.  State tax is 11.5%, which is $79.  Thus the total cost of lodging would be $766 for three nights for three students.

The registration fee for ADEA is $120 per student, totaling $360.  The students will be exhibiting a presentation poster in the required format of 8’x4’ costing $145.

2005-06 WSU Undergraduate Research Budget Worksheet

NOTE –         Equipment and left-over materials purchased with this grant will remain the property of WSU

2005-06 WSU Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentor Recommendation Form

Student Name (last, first): Krantz, Marie; Jones, Natalie & Law, Heidi

1.  How long and in what capacity have you known this student?

I have known Natalie, Marie and Heidi since last fall 2004.  They have all been students of mine in both a didactic and clinical setting.  Last spring they expressed their interest to work with me on a project involving the use of mixed-reality technology to teach techniques for local anesthesia.  As a result, Natalie and Marie dedicated their summer to meet and work with me (90 hours documented) to create the technology needed to make this project a real possibility.  Our summer work was truly collaborative and included Alan Lewis from computer support.  We all basically started with the same knowledge base and worked well together pulling all the pieces together.  Natalie and Marie were not “grunt laborers” on the project; they were valued contributors that assisted in improving both Alan’s and my understanding on virtual systems.  I recommend that you visit the project blog that is listed in the body of their proposal for a clearer understanding of this project and the level of involvement by these students.  Heidi Law could not participate during the summer; however, she has always been part of the group and has participated since he beginning of this semester.

2.  Briefly describe the proposed project.  Is this part of a larger research project? Is this part of a course?  If so, how is the project apart from the nature and scope of activities normally taken for the course?

The proposed project is an investigation into the utilization of mixed-reality technology to teach techniques for local anesthesia.  This is a project with wh