Project Title: Two Year Research Grant
Project Director: Dr. Eric Mayer
Organization: Victor Valley College
Phone: (760) 245-4271, ext. 2299

Victor Valley College, in collaboration with Cal State San Bernardino University, plan to conduct a research study of Student Learning in a Trans-Disciplinary Internet Course of History, Art, Music, Math and Technology. The purpose of the research is as follows:

· To investigate the use of trans-disciplinary instructional delivery to facilitate comprehensive awareness in students. The ordering facility of the left side of the brain is quantitative (Diachronic): reading, writing calculations, naming within a certain parameter. The right side of the brain is the area of the qualitative (synchronic), wellspring of the spatial tactile, the art, the music, and the acoustic.

· To investigate and compare the learning outcomes of 150 students enrolled in trans-disciplinary instructional courses with those enrolled in traditional classroom instruction.

A special effort will be made to target underrepresented students. These students will comprise 50% or more of the 150 students enrolled in the trans-disciplinary Internet course. The target population will consist of 150 students in the following history courses: US History to 1870, US History since 1870, World History to 1500, World History since1500, and Native American History.

Research objectives will focus on increased student gpa, pilot internet class that integrates the targeted disciplines, increased learning of the interconnectedness of these disciplines, right brain analysis, increased faculty involvement in trans-disciplinary Internet courses, and articulation of course with Cal State San Bernardino.

Formative and summative evaluations will be tied to the project objectives. We plan to enroll 150 students and expect course completion by 80% of students.

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