C2M2 would like to thank Dr. Gurcan Comert, Benedict College, for taking part in our C2M2 Distinguished Speaker Series on January 21, 2021. Dr. Comert is an Associate Professor of Transportation Engineering in the Department of Computer Science, Physics, and Engineering at Benedict College and a C2M2 Associate Director.
Seminar Title
Delivery of Contextual and Critical Skills Related to Connected and Autonomous Vehicles through Problem-based Learning in HBCU Classrooms and Research
Seminar Abstract
The purpose of this talk is to illustrate how C2M2 projects are adapted for use in Benedict College courses and the general College learning community. Since summer 2017, faculty have been working on adopting critical pedagogy into undergraduate student research experiences through carefully designed problems and activities where students are able to work with real-data previously collected from C2M2 projects and code writing. Reflections on final presentations, student engagement, team working skills, peer-to-peer interaction, and overall experience are presented.
In the second part, retention rates and improving academic and career success in the STEM disciplines at an HBCU through a hands-on and mentorship-focused research program during regular semesters are discussed. We have utilized the “Scientific Village” model, where students interacted as peers assisting, encouraging, holding each other accountable, and interacted with faculty mentors. Incorporating hands-on research further stimulated and engaged students to enhance interest in STEM curriculum and careers. Results summarized from a three-year, mixed-method, hands-on research program that tracked a cohort of 60 second-semester STEM students at Benedict College.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Comert works on risk analyses and intelligent transportation systems through the development of applications of statistical models on different systems such as traffic signals and freeway monitoring. He is also engaged in the modeling and quantifying of cyberattacks at transportation networks under the framework of connected and autonomous vehicles. He has published peer-reviewed journal papers, peer-reviewed conference proceedings papers, research articles in widely circulated professional magazines based on his work with C2M2. He currently teaches undergraduate transportation, mathematics, statistics, and computer science courses at Benedict College and he has been involved in undergraduate research experiences programs since 2011.