Faculty Showcase: Andrei Kutateladze

Computational Modeling gets a jump start

"Computation Modeling in Life and Physical Science Instruction" was a 20k Grant from the CTL received by Dr. Andrei Kutateladze, Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry.  The grant was written to help the department purchase a multiprocessor server, replacing an older model, to assist in the teaching of multiple life and physical science courses.  The impact of this new technology was far more dramatic than expected, providing an opportunity for students to develop a deeper and richer understanding of course material.

So far, the new server has been used in undergraduate classes to help students visualize and interact with abstract and difficult concepts. It also helps instructors cover material in greater depth as students can now actively engage in fundamental concepts, rather than just hear about them. The use of this technology has also increased student engagement by providing the opportunity for students to create more complex problems and examine them further. 

This technology is designed for teaching, but it has also proved to be useful for research. Graduate students and faculty have used the multiprocessor for thesis chapters and publications. And, as it is not practical for one researcher to use this technology alone, it has led to greater collaboration between researchers.

Faculty members have said that this technology is essential for teaching Chemistry and Biochemistry classes; teaching without it has been described as "learning to swim without water." Students have applauded the introduction of this technology, rating classes that use it the highest in student evaluations. Both teachers and students agree that the hardware is essential, as "there is no going back" to previous teaching methods.

Andrei Kutateladze, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

$20k Grant - Computation Modeling in the Life and Physical Science Instruction