2023–2024 DELTA Grants Yearbook

The 2023–2024 DELTA Grants cycle resulted in 15 completed projects with deliverables focused on enhancing course quality, boosting student engagement and promoting exploratory approaches to improve student outcomes:

• Course Design (4) – AEE 535 (Wendy Warner),  ANT 261 (Christian Doll), CSC 342 (Ignacio Dominguez), CSC 495 (Kathryn Stolee)
• Critical Path (1) – CSC 226 (Jessica Schmidt and Alexander Card)
• Exploratory (10) – AEE 322 (Misty Lambert), BAE 302 (Praveen Kolar) BIO 181 (Lisa Paciulli), BIT 410 (Stephanie Chen, Carlos Goller, Melissa Srougi, and Phillip Brown), BUS 444 (Sarah Khan), GIS 582 (Helena Mitasova, Caitlin Haedrich), LAR 221 (Robin Moore, Nilda Cosco, Adam Noel and Matthew Babb), MAE 100 (Lisa Falk), MAE 201 (Nancy Moore), PRT 152 (Nathan Williams)

Adaptive Learning Modules Address Challenges in Engineering Thermodynamics Course (MAE 201)

Online adaptive learning modules were developed to help students grasp difficult concepts not typically learned intuitively before college. The project utilized the Moodle Lesson tool to create a customized learning flowchart with progressive problem complexity to demonstrate student proficiency. Animated  graphics and short concept videos were developed to enhance understanding.

Interactive Jupyter Notebooks Enhance GIS Student Learning and Map Visualization (GIS 582)

This grant project integrated Jupyter Notebook activities into a unit of the GIS 582 Geospatial Modeling course, measuring their impact on student understanding and performance. The work included improvements to both Jupyter Notebooks and GRASS GIS to create more interactive 2D and 3D maps, with assessment determining whether to expand these activities across the entire course curriculum.

New Software Engineering Course Brings Real-World Product Management Skills to Multi-Format Learning (CSC 495)

This Course Design Grant helped develop a new software engineering course in online, hybrid, and in-person formats with a focus on product management skills often missing from traditional curricula. 
The course features real-life case studies for projects, including an interactive ChatBot designed to teach customer interviewing skills.

Reimagined LabWrite Website Transforms Scientific Communication Resources for Modern Audiences (BIO 181)

This project developed a new version of LabWrite, a free suite of scientific writing resources, with a broadened focus on science communication across multiple formats and educational levels. The initiative updated the platform for modern browsers and mobile devices, created new content and graphics, added features to enhance student engagement in various communication modalities (writing, data visualization, oral, and video) and established a sustainable hosting and maintenance strategy.

Business Course Uses AI Chatbots to Simulate Real-World Consulting Scenarios (BUS 444)

This Exploratory Grant integrates GenAI-trained chatbots into a business technology systems course to create authentic consulting simulations. The project serves two key purposes: providing students with experiential learning opportunities for solving complex business challenges and developing AI literacy through hands-on experience with the capabilities and limitations of large language models and generative AI.

AI Tools in the Classroom Offer Unprecedented Opportunities for Learning 

Lecture Course Transformed with Student-Led Discussions and Collaborative Research (ANT 261)

This Hybrid Learning Grant transformed a lecture-intensive course by integrating public-facing discussion outcomes and collaborative research projects that showcased all students’ contributions and analyses. Community building thrived through the implementation of NC State’s Yellowdig platform, which facilitated vibrant, student-led discussions.

Strengthening Teacher Connections: Grant Boosts NC Ag Education (AEE 535)

Designed for secondary school teachers juggling full-time teaching positions and personal commitments, this Course Design Grant focused on enhancing interactive experiences and professional relationships. The grant sought to cultivate meaningful collaboration within the classroom setting while extending connections beyond it. Additionally, the project worked to develop a stronger sense of community among participants, with the ultimate goal of establishing a professional support network for agricultural educators across North Carolina.

DELTA Grant Enhances Connectivity and Engagement in Agricultural Course 

Equipping Future Ag Teachers with Experiential Learning Skills Across Online Formats (AEE 322)

This Exploratory Grant enhanced an agricultural education course by teaching future teachers how to implement, document, evaluate, and supervise experiential learning opportunities. The project focused on creating equity between online and in-person students, adapting hands-on elements like field trips, guest speakers, team service-learning, and student agricultural project reviews for all learning formats.

3D Animations Transform Understanding of Transport Phenomena in Agricultural Systems (BAE 302)

This project created three interactive 3D visualizations that enhance students’ ability to conceptualize transport phenomena in agricultural and food systems. Moving beyond static PowerPoint images and whiteboard schematics, these animations allow students to observe heat, mass, and momentum transport processes dynamically across varying conditions, providing essential visualization skills for equipment analysis and design.

New Moodle Resources Support Un-grading Learning Approach (MAE 100)

An Exploratory Grant funded the creation of an innovative set of virtual experience case studies of a local park from multiple perspectives. The project also included a public facing hub site that shares these environments plus many other articles and resources on natural learning spaces. Three deliverables were created: a Matterport tour, a virtual environment and a hub site where these resources and the articles and research of the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) were collected.

Learn about the outcomes 

Coding Education Enhanced with In-Class Practice and Streamlined Digital Resources (CSC 342)

By restructuring course time allocation, this Hybrid Learning Grant prioritized in-class coding demonstrations and practical exercises, facilitating students’ progression from theoretical knowledge to guided programming experience. Online quizzes and activities were implemented as self-assessment tools for conceptual understanding. Additionally, the grant funded development of a centralized class portal website that simplified student access to GitHub repositories and virtual machines.

Digital Platform Transforms Biophilic Urban Design Education Through Virtual Exploration (LAR 221)

An Exploratory Grant funded the creation of an innovative digital platform featuring extensive virtual environments where users can explore park spaces asynchronously from child and adult  perspectives. The project exceeded expectations by creating accessible educational content, documenting real-world architectural examples, and developing interactive tours that highlight design principles for students, policymakers and community members.

DELTA Grants LAR 221 Project: An Invitation to Walk in the Park 

Three-Step Learning Model Revolutionizes Course (CSC 226)

This Critical Path Grant centered on three repeated learning steps: before class, during class and after class. Students prepare through pre-class interactive online lectures, then apply concepts during in-class group activities, and reinforce learning through independent homework. Visual graphics illustrating complex counting concepts enhance both online and classroom materials.

Creative Media Demystifies High-Structure Learning in Biotechnology Program (BIT 410)

This Exploratory Grant developed animations and videos that explain the theory and implementation of the high-structure format used across the Biotechnology Program. The resource helps students understand the purpose behind frequent low-stakes assignments and long-term projects, increasing student motivation and engagement both in biotechnology courses and in any course using high-impact teaching practices.

High Structure Course Design Improves Student Success 

Students Create Accessible VR Map of NC Recreation (PRT 152)

Two DELTA Exploratory Grants funded a project teaching students to develop VR content while addressing accessibility in outdoor recreation. The resulting map, NC: State of Recreation, is a public interactive VR map showcasing student-created experiences across North Carolina’s mountain, Piedmont and coastal regions.

Immersive VR Tours Promote Inclusive Recreation 

Watch: DELTA Grants Stories — Working with DELTA