Associated Products
Humanities-Driven STEM: A New Approach for STEM & the Liberal Arts (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Humanities-Driven STEM: A New Approach for STEM & the Liberal Arts
Author: John Carrell
Author: Aliza Wong
Abstract: Arts and humanities have often been an afterthought in STEM education. Developments with STEAM (Art), STREM (Reading), and STEMM (Music) have tried to address this by adding arts and humanities into STEM to increase problem solving, innovation, or creativity. This supplement leaves out many of the soft-skill development that arts and humanities provide. In a change of this approach, the Honors College at Texas Tech University has developed humanities-driven STEM courses that use arts and humanities as the basis of discussion of human progress and supplements with STEM principles through scientific discovery and engineering advancement. These courses have been instituted within a first-year experience program. Analysis of these courses and discussion of student and instructor feedback will be provided.
Date: 11/08/2019
Primary URL:
http://www.aacu.org/sites/default/files/files/stem19/2019%20AACU%20STEM%20Program%20-%20Final.pdfPrimary URL Description: PDF of Conference Schedule with presentation abstract
Conference Name: 2019 AACU Transforming STEM Higher Education
Humanities-Driven STEM— Using History as a Foundation for STEM Education in Honors (Article)Title: Humanities-Driven STEM— Using History as a Foundation for STEM Education in Honors
Author: John Carrell
Author: Hannah Keaty
Author: Aliza Wong
Abstract: Humanities have traditionally played a limited role in STEM education, yet their natural connections may be used to enrich academic understanding and student experience. Authors explore their mutuality by presenting an interdisciplinary curriculum, Humanities-Driven STEM (HDSTEM). Unlike other iterations of blended disciplines, HDSTEM provides students with abilities and knowledge to go beyond the acquisition of soft skills toward humanistic, often artistic, creative problem-solving and innovative thinking. A pilot HDSTEM course offered through the first-year experience program is described. Authors outline its development, implementation, outcomes, and evaluation, positing humanities at the forefront as the impetus and lens for contextualizing STEM research and discovery. Challenges and implications for future development beyond first-year experience are presented.
Year: 2020
Primary URL:
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nchchip/315/Access Model: Open Access
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: Honors in Practice
Publisher: National Collegiate Honors Council
Using Humanities as Context for STEM Empathy Development: A Discourse (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Using Humanities as Context for STEM Empathy Development: A Discourse
Author: Joshua Cruz
Author: Stephanie Kuzmack
Abstract: The need to provide science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learners, particularly engineers, with an understanding of humanities is becoming increasingly apparent. Continued globalization through technologies means that what engineers create has an impact on how we communicate within/across societies. Humanities and STEM education are currently siloed, limiting the connection between topics and fields. However, links between the humanities and STEM can deepen students’ educational experiences. Exploring the links between STEM and humanities, the Texas Tech University Honors College has developed an interdisciplinary curriculum incorporating the arts and humanities and STEM. Unlike other iterations of this technique, namely STEAM, where arts are included to help promote more creative, innovative problem-solving, this approach uses the humanities as the foundation for STEM learning. We coin this approach Humanities-Driven STEM (HDSTEM). HDSTEM education goes beyond creative thinking and problem-solving, providing soft skills through application of the humanities. Our paper focuses on the development of empathy, one soft skill. Specifically, discourse analysis was used to examine course assignments that ask students to reverse engineer technical dilemmas from World War II. In some instances, students were asked simply to reverse engineer; in others, they were asked to consider broader, contextual, humanitarian concerns during WWII. Results show development in empathetic language, such as emotionally evocative terms, attention to societal aspirations, and human-centric focus over more abstract problem-solution oriented thinking. We believe this illustrates a definite link between empathy development and technical problem-solving.
Date: 04/23/2020
Primary URL:
https://peer.asee.org/using-humanities-as-context-for-stem-empathy-development-a-discourse-analysisConference Name: 2020 Gulf Southwest Section ASEE Conference
Prizes
1st Place Faculty Paper
Date: 6/15/2020
Organization: GSW ASEE
The Texas Tech Honors College-Humanities-Driven STEM Academy: Implementing a New Path for Honors Education (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: The Texas Tech Honors College-Humanities-Driven STEM Academy: Implementing a New Path for Honors Education
Author: Aliza Wong
Author: John Carrell
Abstract: A discussion on Texas Tech University Honors College new major, Honors Science and the Humanities. How we re-envision liberal arts for the 21st century.
Date: 10/28/2021
Conference Name: 2021 National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference
Understanding Empathy in Problem-Solving Contexts for First-Year Engineering Students (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Understanding Empathy in Problem-Solving Contexts for First-Year Engineering Students
Author: John Carrell
Author: Joshua Cruz
Abstract: Interdisciplinary courses have played a key role in teaching challenging and complex issues to students. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and humanities fields (i.e., arts, reading, music, etc.) have been blended to cultivate creative thinking and problem-solving, particularly for STEM students. Expanding these efforts, the Texas Tech University (TTU) Honors College has created humanities-driven STEM (HDSTEM) courses. These HDSTEM courses are team-taught with a STEM and humanities faculty. Because the humanities have been argued to produce students with higher levels of empathy, an HDSTEM course was devised that blends technical problem-solving with the humanities and asks students to empathize. Discourse and content analysis of problem-solving assignments was performed to analyze changes in empathetic depositions for Honors students. An empathy rubric was used to baseline and score empathy levels as students progressed through the course. Students’ problem-solving assignments generally showed more empathetic positioning during the semester than at the start of the semester. This HDSTEM course successfully blended STEM and humanities by having students consider technical and “hard science” aspects of their assignments while asking them to empathize and think more deeply about the discipline’s social, political, and ethical implications. Further, this work shows that the humanities within a STEM context can foster an empathetic disposition. This session will discuss the results of this study, provide details on how HDSTEM is being further implemented within TTU’s Honors curriculum, and discuss lessons learned for implementation into other colleges/programs.
Date: 11/5/2022
Conference Name: National Council of Honors Colleges Annual Conference
Science and Science Fiction in an Interdisciplinary First-Year Experience Honors Course (Article)Title: Science and Science Fiction in an Interdisciplinary First-Year Experience Honors Course
Author: John Carrell
Author: Robert Weiner
Abstract: Engineering and pop-culturist instructors team-teach a first-year experience course exploring science through the lenses of history, literature, film, television, and sequential art. Authors present science fiction discourses as unique for synthesizing fields in the humanities and STEM, and they present curricular and co-curricular design strategies for harnessing its potential in the honors classroom. Course objectives and outcomes are presented, with authors noting specific challenges in implementation and emendation. Adaptability and compatibility figure prominently in the successful delivery of the course. A review of literature relating to interdisciplinary education and team-teaching in honors is included.
Year: 2023
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: Honors in Practice
Publisher: National Collegiate Honors Council
Honors Liberal Arts for the 21st Century (Book Section)Title: Honors Liberal Arts for the 21st Century
Author: John Carrell
Author: Aliza Wong
Author: Chad Cain
Author: Carrie J. Preston
Author: Muhammad H. Zaman
Editor: Richard Badenhausen
Abstract: We argue that honors colleges can deploy the power of the liberal arts to emphasize diversity, equity, global citizenship, ethical leadership, and empowerment by combining liberal arts and STEM fields in interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges, from climate change to the pandemic and forced displacement. As the honors colleges at Texas Tech and Boston University work to be at the forefront of pedagogical and curricular innovation, the 21st century has presented us with a student and faculty community becoming increasingly aware of historical, racial, gendered, and socioeconomic disparities, which were further exacerbated by a pandemic. In response to these issues, we have changed how we approach the liberal arts, shifting from a traditional “Great Books” curriculum to an interdisciplinary focus that immerses students in an environment that fully integrates STEM with the humanities. With this approach, students learn how STEM and the humanities are linked, mutually dependent and how they continually affect our world and society. Our pedagogical innovation includes experiential learning, team-taught courses, first-year and summit experiences, non-traditional coursework, study abroad opportunities, and co-curricular programs. The overall effect has been the production of reflective and empowered students and graduates willing and ready to use the new liberal arts to attack the grand challenges of our society.
Year: 2023
Publisher: National Collegiate Honors Council
Book Title: Honors Colleges in the 21st Century
Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Batman (1989) (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Batman (1989)
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind Tim Burton’s BATMAN. Before the film, there will be a panel discussion with TTU faculty, pop culture librarian Rob Weiner and engineer John Carrell.
Author: John Carrell
Author: Robert Weiner
Date: 7/11/2022
Location: Lubbock, TX
Primary URL:
https://drafthouse.com/lubbock/event/humanitizing-the-sciences-batman-1989Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Erin Brockovich (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Erin Brockovich
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of, Erin Brockovich, the dramatization of a true story portrayed by Julia Roberts. Before the film, there will be a panel discussion with Jaclyn Canas-Carrell from the TTU Department of Environmental Toxicology and Brie Sherwin from the TTU School of Law.
Author: Jaclyn Canas-Carrell
Author: Brie Sherwin
Date: 9/15/2022
Location: Lubbock, TX
Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-They Shall Not Grow Old (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-They Shall Not Grow Old
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD. Before the film, there will be a panel discussion with Dr. Richard Lutjens from the Department of History and Dr. John Carrell from the Honors College.
Author: John Carrell
Author: Richard Lutjens
Date: 11/8/2022
Location: Lubbock, TX
Primary URL:
https://drafthouse.com/lubbock/event/humanitizing-the-sciences-they-shall-not-grow-old-3dHumanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Whiplash (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Whiplash
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of WHIPLASH. Before the film, there will be a panel discussion with Dr. Dominick Casadonte from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Dr. Eric Fried from the School of Music.
Author: Dominick Casadonte
Author: Eric Fried
Date: 10/13/2022
Location: Lubbock, TX
Primary URL:
https://drafthouse.com/lubbock/event/humanitizing-the-sciences-whiplashHumanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Wizard of Oz (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series at Alamo Drafthouse-Wizard of Oz
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for the special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind Victor Fleming's "The Wizard of Oz." After the film, there will be a panel discussiong with TTU faculty, historian Aliza Wong and engineer John Carrell.
Author: John Carrell
Author: Aliza Wong
Date: 5/2/2022
Location: Lubbock, TX
Primary URL:
https://drafthouse.com/lubbock/event/special-event-the-wizard-of-oz-1939Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series-Rocky Horror Picture Show (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences Film Series-Rocky Horror Picture Show
Abstract: Join the Honors College and the HDSTEM Academy for a special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to celebrate Texas Tech University’s Pride Week. Before the film, there will be a panel discussion with Dr. Rob Weiner from the TTU Library and Professor Casey Joiner from the TTU School of Theatre & Dance.
Author: Robert Weiner
Author: Casey Joiner
Date: 10/26/2022
Location: Lubbock, TX
Humanitizing the Sciences-Star Wars (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Star Wars
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of The Rise of Skywalker followed by a brief discussion by TTU faculty physicist Tom Maccarone and cinema technologist Allison Whitney.
Author: Tom Maccrone
Author: Allison Whitney
Date: 1/23/2020
Location: Lubbock, TX
Humanitizing the Sciences-Jurrasic Park (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Jurrasic Park
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of the original Jurassic Park followed by a brief discussion by microbiologist Michael San Francisco and philosopher Joel Velasco.
Author: Michael San Francisco
Author: Joel Velasco
Date: 11/14/2019
Location: Lubbock, TX
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Abstract: Join us for a special screening and conversation with Karen Johnson producer of Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound.
Author: Karen Johnson
Author: Robert Peaslee
Author: John Carrell
Date: 4/15/2021
Location: Lubbock, TX
Using Humanities-Driven STEM to Develop Empathetic Positions in Engineering Undergraduate Students: A Discourse Analysis. (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Using Humanities-Driven STEM to Develop Empathetic Positions in Engineering Undergraduate Students: A Discourse Analysis.
Author: John Carrell
Author: Joshua Cruz
Author: Erika Nunez
Abstract: We explore how coursework at the intersection of STEM and humanities might increase empathetic dispositions for undergraduate engineering students. This study takes place in an honors-based history/technology course focusing on World War II, co-taught by a professor of history and professor of engineering. Throughout the course, students completed projects in which they were asked to reverse engineer technical problems of WWII, but were sometimes asked to "empathize," considering broader social and humanitarian concerns associated with their technical problems. Using discourse analysis to examine how students empathized when instructed, we found that they had more to write, were able to align themselves with stakeholders in the wars, better anticipated readers' needs, and wrote with more subjective, rather than objective voices.
Date: 4/23/2022
Primary URL:
https://doi.org/10.3102/1886611Conference Name: Proceedings of The American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference
A Public Talk with Harriet Washington (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: A Public Talk with Harriet Washington
Abstract: Please join the Texas Tech University Honors College in welcoming award-winning writer, Harriet Washington, author of Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present and A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind, for a virtual public lecture. Ms. Washington will be discussing issues of racial justice and public health, a timely and important topic given the current state of the pandemic.
Author: Harriet Washington
Date: 2/16/2021
Location: Lubbock, TX