By Nick Bollman
Grand Rapids Community College faculty presented their research ranging from health and wellness to virtual reality applications at the spring research showcase on Tuesday. About a half-dozen instructors set up table displays of their research and collaboration with students.
One project titled, “Your Exercise Prescription for Health,” explained how to stay healthy to avoid disease. It was created by two honor students at GRCC and presented by their instructor, Melanie Schiele-Gady.
“Honor students complete additional learning projects on top of regular class assignments, while maintaining a 3.3 GPA.” Schiele-Gady said.
According to a handout provided at Schiele-Gady’s table, “A gradual progression of exercise time, frequency, and intensity is recommended for the best adherence and least injury risk.” Resistance exercise for adults should have a 48-hour window between training sessions to avoid injury. Also, flexibility exercises improve the range of motion for a person who completes these exercises.
Another display at the event was focused on childhood development and technology. It featured a $200 robotic product produced by KinderLab located in Boston. This product challenges kids on problem solving skills by applying a kid-friendly coding program. Kids learn through playing with the blocks that instruct the robot on how to move. This blends coding, playing and learning into one robot.
One demo highlighted how technology is changing the traditional college classroom with virtual reality headsets. The project demonstrated how interior design students can make their projects come to life using software apps and virtual reality to allow viewers to see their interior projects in 3-D.
A second virtual reality demo highlighted how geology students can utilize this technology in the classroom to view Grand Ledge “in person.” Usually, with new technology comes more expenses for students. But with these programs, the technology is provided for students for classroom use.
