Research Projects

TEACHActive: An Integrated Faculty Professional Model with Classroom Sensing

NSF Grant: Baran, E. (PI), Gilbert, S. (Co-PI), Karabulut-Ilgu, A. (Co-PI), & Jiang, S. (Co-PI). An Integrated Faculty Professional Development Model Using Classroom Sensing and Machine Learning to Promote Active Learning in Engineering Classrooms. National Science Foundation, 2020-2023

Role: Project Lead Research Assistant (Aug 2020- Present)

*Significantly contributed to the writing of this grant

  • Conceptualize and plan the project phases

  • Coordinate and implement project logistics

  • Design all data collection materials and procedures

  • Gather user requirements, conduct user walk-throughs

  • Coordinate the project logistics

  • Examine how engineering faculty make sense of analytics from their classrooms

  • Examine changes in faculty’s teaching beliefs and teaching actions

  • Analyze data and disseminate results/findings in conferences and journal articles

  • Prepare the progress report material


Human-Centered Design & Design Thinking

Innovative Teaching Initiative Grant. Baran, E. (PI), Crawford, D. (Co-PI), McKilligan, S. (Co-PI), & Eyles, J. (Co-PI) Create, Design, and Innovate Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship in Learning Technologies. College of Human Sciences

Role: Research Assistant (Aug 2019- May 2020)

  • Created the materials of four-week module implementation of design thinking and entrepreneurial mindset for educators.

  • Designed the data collection materials and procedures.

  • Examined preservice teachers’ change in conceptualizations and mindsets of ‘teachers as designers.’

  • Analyzed data and disseminate results/findings in conferences and journal articles.


Video Enhanced Observation(VEO) M-Observe

Miller Faculty Fellowship. Baran, E. (PI) & Bahng, E.J. (Co-PI). Video Enhanced Mobile Observation (VEO M-Observe): Mobile-App Supported Peer Observation and Feedback Pedagogy for Enhancing Preservice Teachers’ Reflective Practice.

Role: Research Assistant (Jan 2019- May 2020)

* Significantly contributed to the writing of this grant


  • Conceptualized the project and plan the project phases.

  • Designed data collection materials and procedures.

  • Trained preservice teachers on using VEO application and its features.

  • Integrated and customized VEO in a pedagogical model.

  • Examined preservice teachers’ acceptance of using VEO and their reflective-critical thinking.

  • Analyzed data and disseminated results/findings in conferences and journal articles.

  • Prepared the progress report


Baran, AlZoubi (2020)

Open Pedagogy in Higher Education

Role: Research Assistant (Jan 2019- Aug 2019)

  • Designed three open educational resources: an open online course on Canvas, a Wikibook on Aquatic Toxicology, and a Pressbook e-book on Learning Environments Design.
    Miller Open Education Grant. Jovanovic, B. (PI) & Baran, E. (Co-PI). Creating an Open Wikibook for the Aquatic Toxicology Graduate Course.

  • Examined the affordances and challenges of open pedagogy in three higher education courses.

  • Designed the data collection materials, conducted interviews.

  • Analyzed data and disseminated results/findings in conferences and journal articles.