These faculty podcasts are examples of the innovative spirit that exists in many fields at Boise State University. Just as the Broncos are known for inventive, well-executed football, our campus community is recognized for creative new ideas and exciting partnerships that enhance the experiences of our students every day.
-
Human Engineering: The Basics of Joint Replacement
Michelle Sabick
Biomedical engineers must overcome significant hurdles to create joint replacements that can serve as stand-ins for healthy bone and cartilage. In this podcast, Dr. Sabick outlines how engineers overcome those challenges to make joint replacement an increasingly common and usually successful procedure that improves the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people every year. She provides a brief overview of the field of biomedical engineering and also details a case study about a patient who needs a hip replacement as an illustration of several key concepts of engineering design.
-
Spatial Reasoning and the Mathematical Mind
Jonathan Brendefur
Most people believe that mathematics is numbers, symbols, and notations. In this podcast, Brendefur explains that mathematics is also about spatial reasoning – the ability to visually manipulate stimuli, to break apart and put together 2-D and 3-D shapes, to take these ideas and twist and turn them or to not be confused when an object’s orientation changes. This ability is one of the best predictors of later success in mathematics, and can be learned through a variety of different methods and practices. It also helps people develop fluency with operations in arithmetic and strengthens measurement concepts.
-
Congressional Redistricting: How the Process Works
Gary Moncrief
Reapportionment and redistricting are an integral, and often controversial, component of the American political process. In this podcast, Boise State professor Gary Moncrief discusses the important terminology and theories involved, as well as the history of redistricting in the United States, and how redistricting issues are different in various regions of the country. He also analyzes the difference between having the legislature do the redistricting work and having an independent commission in charge of the task. Utilizing his research and expertise in the field, Dr. Moncrief sheds significant light on a sometimes complicated and contentious part of our political structure.
-
Understanding Learning Disabilities
Evelyn Johnson
Learning disabilities are common among U.S. children, affecting about 1 in 10 children nationally. They manifest in many different ways – some children experience difficulties with reading called dyslexia, some with math called dyscalculia, some with writing called dysgraphia, and others with nonverbal learning disabilities. Many learning disabilities can be treated by providing early intervention in the area of concern, but quick action is required in order to avoid risking that students’ learning difficulties becoming intractable. In this podcast, Johnson discusses learning disabilities, the challenges in diagnosis, and effective intervention strategies.