Applied Research – What is it Good for?

1. Applied Research – What is it Good for? Focus on Learning, Part 2 Mark Hoddenbagh 2012 June 05 St. Lawrence College

2. Program Learning Outcomes Through active participation in the Focus on Learning Program, participants will have demonstrated their ability to facilitate and guide learning that supports diverse learners in their achievement of learning outcomes. • Elements of performance: • Create an environment conducive to learning • Select, adapt and design learning experiences appropriate for a variety of learning styles and learning needs • Help learners process experiences and derive meaning from them • Provide specific, constructive feedback that helps learners assess their progress toward the achievement of learning outcomes

3. Program Learning Outcomes Create and use a personal action plan that enhances professional practice. • Elements of performance: • Set clear goals for personal change in their professional practice • Contribute to a learning culture that encourages risk-taking, continuous learning, reflective practice and peer support • Identify and assess the impact of their teaching practice on learners’ achievement

4. What is Applied Research? • Activities that focus on the development and implementation/commercialization of products, processes and services that lead to stronger organizations • For profit - jobs, new markets, economic growth • NFP – improved efficiencies, effectiveness • Government – higher productivity, better service

5. What is Innovation? Doing new things old ways. Doing old things new ways. Doing new things new ways.

6. In which areas/fields can Applied Research be done? Any field!!

7. How does Applied Research work? Client brings problem/ opportunity to college Applied Research office provides assistance. Helps identify: Students Project Team Faculty Funder Desired product, process, service

8. What does Applied Research have to do with a College education? • One of the highest forms of Experiential Learning • Students get a real-life experience prior to graduation • Projects mimic the workplace • Provides a skill set that is valued by employers • Develop interdisciplinary understanding • Helps develop vocational skills • Provides perspective on General Education Themes • Addresses the 11 Essential Employability Skills

9. General Education Themes 1. Arts in Society 2. Civic Life 3. Social and Cultural Understanding 4. Personal Understanding 5. Science and Technology

10. 11 Essential Employability Skills 1. Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken, and visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience. 2. Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication. 3. Execute mathematical operations accurately. 4. Apply a systematic approach to solve problems. 5. Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems. 6. Locate, select, organize, and document information using appropriate technology and information systems. 7. Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources. 8. Show respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others. 9. Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals. 10. Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects. 11. Take responsibility for one’s own actions, decisions, and consequences.

11. What’s in it for faculty? • Professional development • Keep up with advances in field of teaching • Strengthen ties to external community • Broaden internal horizons • Interdisciplinary projects • Access to funding for: • Projects • Travel to conferences

12. Benefits for Clients? • Access to students, faculty expertise, leveraged funding • Option for College to become pilot test site • Product, process, service closer to implementation or commercialization • Introduction to other clients/potential customers • Assistance in international market • Access to Highly Qualified and Skilled Personnel • 4-8 month job interviews

13. Sample Projects • CHEO – symbology for prescription drugs • JUNO Awards – economic impact • B-Con Engineering – novel optical devices • EdeyFX – vertical axis wind turbine • TimekeeperPro – scoreboard • 1st Place in OCE Discovery College Connections competition • Devera – IT policy management

14. Applied Research Process • Problem solving approach • Can be used in all areas of life, not just formal research • Focus on problem or opportunity • Clearly define problem/opportunity and desired outcome • Write problem/opportunity statement • Need SMART statement • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Relevant • Timely

15. Applied Research Process • List potential outcomes • May not also get what desire/expect so planning ahead will enable you to be prepared for this • List contingencies/actions to be taken with each outcome • Will enable you to react more quickly to changes • Set work plan • Execute project • Close the loop • Assess outcome versus initial statement • Reporting • Determine path forward

16. Case Study Your lawn needs help! Your backyard lawn is in bad shape. It has large brown patches, mushrooms, lots of weeds and any green grass there is appears to be dying, not thriving. Your yard is 100’ deep and 60’ wide, has a cedar hedge on the west side, a vegetable garden at the back (northeast corner) that is 10’D x 30’W, and chain link fence on the north, east and south sides. There is a small deck (10’x10’) attached to the house and a patio that is 10’Dx20’W off of the deck. My disposable income after taxes and expenses is about $800/month.

17. Incorporating Applied Research into Education • Fundamental Guidelines • Have professor involved • Have students involved (typically) • Have Applied Research office involved • Encourage working with industrial partner from beginning • Meet all client’s needs whether business or technical • College Provides • Faculty (through course of SWF release) • Infrastructure – physical, financial, legal • Some funding • Applied Research office

18. Team Roles • Liaise with funders, clients • Purchasing • Budgeting • Contracts • Networking • Host Applied Research Day • Bring research idea/ problem to be solved • Provide guidance to students • Provide resources • Liaise with client • Scope and execute project • Write final report • Get course credits • Display at Applied Research Day • Vetting of clients • Timeline and Milestones • Setting/Advising/managing student teams • Project review and assessment • Provide funds • Introduce us to SME partners • Independent analysis of clients

19. Standalone Projects (SAP) – Cash is King! • Faculty member • Full-timer SWF buy-out/11th month • Depends on funding level and time commitments • Part-timer paid as Research Associate • Need to include in grant applications • Technical liaison with company • Directs students technical work • Student Research Assistants • Hire as part-timers during school, full-timers during summer/Co-op • Work directly for professor for technical aspects • May report to company, but employed by College • ARI handles timesheets, payment, administration • $12-20/hour, depending on skill level and project needs

20. In-Class Projects (ICP) – Marks Rule • Integral part of course • Best way to get as many students and faculty involved • The team: • Professor (coordinates as part of teaching load) • Students (3+ preferred; work for marks) • Client (industry/community group) • Funder (grants) • ARI (logistics/support/guidance) • Interdisciplinary projects encouraged

21. Role of the STUDENT • Take responsibility for the success of the project • Draw upon appropriate resources, in order to make informed decisions • The responsibility of any choices however lies with the student. • Develop budgets, timelines, scope etc. in collaboration with professor and client • Apply for funding • Execute project • Report as appropriate

22. Role of the INDUSTRIAL PARTNER • Define project with assistance of faculty supervisor • Contribute cash and in-kind support • Provide technical supervision, support and guidance for duration of project • Inform students of the broader issues such as the factors supporting a business case analysis • Help students develop entrepreneurial/ intrapreneurial skills/mindset

23. Role of the PROFESSOR • Work with students and clients to create tentative budget • Consult with students weekly • Set clear expectations for students • Grade student • Appoint student project team leaders • Set clear expectations for industrial partner

24. Competitions for ICP • Have several groups working on same issue • Choose best and continue developing it • Works well for certain industrial projects • Graphical User Interface design for telecom company • Can include as class project • Can run as open competition for whole college

25. Student-led (SAP or ICP) • Student has own idea would like to develop • Can apply for funding • Encouraged to find faculty advisor/mentor • Work closely with ARI to ensure solid work plan

26. Funding Sources • Ontario Centres of Excellence • Connections (ICP) • Experiential Learning Program (ICP/SAP) • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council • Canadian Institutes of Health Research • FedDev – Community Futures, Applied Research and Commercialization

27. Wow! Free Money! If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true Funding Organizations do not give away money Funding Organizations invest money

28. Administrivia • Know and follow College policies around IP, Research Ethics, Research Administration, Use of Animal, Biohazards, Purchasing, HR • Know and follow Funder funding criteria, expense guidelines, reporting • Metrics important so start early, measure often • Risk management is important • Have Research Collaboration Agreements

29. Chide.it • Incubated company for 9 months • Developed web based applications for • Software • Competition management • In 4 years have grown to • Over $1M sales • Over 20 employees

30. Chide.it • Algonquin • Provided faculty and students • Access to $225,000 in research funding

31. Hydro One • Building on existing 4-college consortium • Mohawk, Georgian, Northern, Algonquin • Curriculum development • Equipment • Bursaries • Added applied research to second contract

32. Hydro One • Plugged-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicle • Investigating impact on rural grid • Determine monitoring equipment, parameters • Have sourced additional funding from OCE • Applying for more

33. Acknowledgements • David Thibodeau • Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology • ICP guru • Office staff • Tina, Ricc, John, Teri, Carmel, Alex, Kerry • Focus on Learning for invitation

34. Questions?