Abstract:

Creative Inquiry is a set of courses providing over 20,000 undergraduate students with small group, research-driven opportunities to work directly with faculty on meaningful research projects at a four-year institution in the United States. This case study will examine one such course, called Watson in the Watt: ColorNet, which is focused on developing an artificial intelligence (AI) color correction solution for live video. Eight students from different majors including computer science, electrical engineering, bioengineering, and computer engineering have enrolled in this course in the last three years. They worked with faculty and staff from two different colleges and the athletic department to develop hardware and software solutions to address the issue of brand colors not appearing correctly on live video at sporting events. This course is an example of classroom-based, multidisciplinary research where students propose, solve, and contribute to the overall goals of the team while gaining exposure to the different approaches disciplines have towards AI, color correction, and research methodology. Over the last six semesters, the course outputs included student participation in a domestic patent, eleven presentations, nine publications, a guest appearance on a podcast, and an invitation to an international trade show. This case study collected survey data from the eight students involved in the course, four who have completed their undergraduate degree and four who are still enrolled in the institution. The survey investigates the effect of participation in this small-group, interdisciplinary course on their undergraduate experience and early career decisions.

Keywords:

Student research, research, inquiry, interdisciplinary, Artificial Intelligence, AI.