Karen S McNeal
Biographic Data
| ID | 6467213 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Karen S McNeal |
| GIVEN NAMES | Karen S |
| FAMILY NAME | McNeal |
| SIGNATURE | MCNEAL K S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Auburn University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8701-0508 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 9 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Eye Tracking EzGCM, an Online Climate Modeling Tool, to Evaluate Three Dimensions of Usability
Science web tools provide educators with a method to teach their students complex issues like global climate change, because of their ability to use large datasets and illustrate abstract ideas. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure that science tools are efficient and usable so that they can be meaningfully integrated into science curriculum. One of these tools, EzGCM, was created to teach students about the climate modeling pro…
Implementation of a climate decision support system in an undergraduate weather and climate classroom
User Engagement Testing with a Pilot Decision Support Tool Aimed to Support Species Managers
Species status assessments (SSAs) are required for endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and focus on the resiliency, redundancy, and representation of endangered species. SSAs must include climate information, because climate is a factor that will impact species in the future. To aid in the inclusion of climate information, a decision support system (DSS) entitled Climate Analysis and Visualization for the Assessment of Specie…
Development of a survey instrument to assess individual and organizational use of climate adaptation science
Research that can improve the resilience of social and natural systems to climate change has become more common. Many climate adaptation science organizations and agencies now focus on actionable science, a model that aims to have greater impacts on policy and practice than traditionally produced and distributed science. However, evaluations of research projects are needed to examine and verify the impact of climate science on adaptation and soci…
Website Usability Differences between Males and Females
Decision support systems—collections of related information located in a central place to be used for decision-making—can be used as platforms from which climate information can be shared with decision-makers. Unfortunately, these tools are not often evaluated, meaning developers do not know how useful or usable their products are. In this study, a web-based climate decision support system (DSS) for foresters in the southeastern United States was…
Visually Communicating Future Climate in a Web Environment
While there is growing demand for use of climate model projections to understand the potential impacts of future climate on resources, there is a lack of effective visuals that convey the range of possible climates across spatial scales and with uncertainties that potential users need to inform their impact assessments and studies. We use usability testing including eye tracking to explore how a group of resource professionals (foresters) interpr…
A novel approach to measuring student engagement while using an augmented reality sandbox
Augmented reality (AR) sandboxes are useful tools in helping students develop a three-dimensional understanding of topographic maps and landforms. Research on the AR sandbox indicates that students enjoy it, but evidence about student learning gains is inconclusive. This study aims to understand how students engage with these tools as a precedent to understanding learning gains. Technology in the form of skin biosensors allows researchers to meas…
A multi-institutional study of inquiry-based lab activities using the Augmented Reality Sandbox
We developed and tested different pedagogical treatments using an Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox to teach introductory geoscience students about reading topographic maps at five institutions in both pilot and full implementation studies. The AR Sandbox treatments were characterized as 1) unstructured play, 2) a semi-structured lesson, and 3) a structured lesson. The success of each was contrasted with the control condition of a traditional topogr…
Inquiry in the Physical Geology Classroom
This study characterizes the impact of an inquiry-based learning (IBL) module versus a traditionally structured laboratory exercise. Laboratory sections were randomized into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught using IBL pedagogical techniques and included manipulation of large-scale data-sets, use of multiple representations and a physical model and exposure to ill-constrained problems common to the Texas Gulf Coast…
A novel approach to measuring student engagement while using an augmented reality sandbox
Augmented reality (AR) sandboxes are useful tools in helping students develop a three-dimensional understanding of topographic maps and landforms. Research on the AR sandbox indicates that students enjoy it, but evidence about student learning gains is inconclusive. This study aims to understand how students engage with these tools as a precedent to understanding learning gains. Technology in the form of skin biosensors allows researchers to meas…
Inquiry in the Physical Geology Classroom
This study characterizes the impact of an inquiry-based learning (IBL) module versus a traditionally structured laboratory exercise. Laboratory sections were randomized into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught using IBL pedagogical techniques and included manipulation of large-scale data-sets, use of multiple representations and a physical model and exposure to ill-constrained problems common to the Texas Gulf Coast…
A multi-institutional study of inquiry-based lab activities using the Augmented Reality Sandbox
We developed and tested different pedagogical treatments using an Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox to teach introductory geoscience students about reading topographic maps at five institutions in both pilot and full implementation studies. The AR Sandbox treatments were characterized as 1) unstructured play, 2) a semi-structured lesson, and 3) a structured lesson. The success of each was contrasted with the control condition of a traditional topogr…
Inquiry in the Physical Geology Classroom
This study characterizes the impact of an inquiry-based learning (IBL) module versus a traditionally structured laboratory exercise. Laboratory sections were randomized into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught using IBL pedagogical techniques and included manipulation of large-scale data-sets, use of multiple representations and a physical model and exposure to ill-constrained problems common to the Texas Gulf Coast…
A multi-institutional study of inquiry-based lab activities using the Augmented Reality Sandbox
We developed and tested different pedagogical treatments using an Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox to teach introductory geoscience students about reading topographic maps at five institutions in both pilot and full implementation studies. The AR Sandbox treatments were characterized as 1) unstructured play, 2) a semi-structured lesson, and 3) a structured lesson. The success of each was contrasted with the control condition of a traditional topogr…
Website Usability Differences between Males and Females
Decision support systems—collections of related information located in a central place to be used for decision-making—can be used as platforms from which climate information can be shared with decision-makers. Unfortunately, these tools are not often evaluated, meaning developers do not know how useful or usable their products are. In this study, a web-based climate decision support system (DSS) for foresters in the southeastern United States was…
Visually Communicating Future Climate in a Web Environment
While there is growing demand for use of climate model projections to understand the potential impacts of future climate on resources, there is a lack of effective visuals that convey the range of possible climates across spatial scales and with uncertainties that potential users need to inform their impact assessments and studies. We use usability testing including eye tracking to explore how a group of resource professionals (foresters) interpr…
A novel approach to measuring student engagement while using an augmented reality sandbox
Augmented reality (AR) sandboxes are useful tools in helping students develop a three-dimensional understanding of topographic maps and landforms. Research on the AR sandbox indicates that students enjoy it, but evidence about student learning gains is inconclusive. This study aims to understand how students engage with these tools as a precedent to understanding learning gains. Technology in the form of skin biosensors allows researchers to meas…
Development of a survey instrument to assess individual and organizational use of climate adaptation science
Research that can improve the resilience of social and natural systems to climate change has become more common. Many climate adaptation science organizations and agencies now focus on actionable science, a model that aims to have greater impacts on policy and practice than traditionally produced and distributed science. However, evaluations of research projects are needed to examine and verify the impact of climate science on adaptation and soci…
User Engagement Testing with a Pilot Decision Support Tool Aimed to Support Species Managers
Species status assessments (SSAs) are required for endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and focus on the resiliency, redundancy, and representation of endangered species. SSAs must include climate information, because climate is a factor that will impact species in the future. To aid in the inclusion of climate information, a decision support system (DSS) entitled Climate Analysis and Visualization for the Assessment of Specie…
Implementation of a climate decision support system in an undergraduate weather and climate classroom
Eye Tracking EzGCM, an Online Climate Modeling Tool, to Evaluate Three Dimensions of Usability
Science web tools provide educators with a method to teach their students complex issues like global climate change, because of their ability to use large datasets and illustrate abstract ideas. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure that science tools are efficient and usable so that they can be meaningfully integrated into science curriculum. One of these tools, EzGCM, was created to teach students about the climate modeling pro…
Computer Science (7 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Environmental resource management (4 works) · Environmental Science (4 works) · Human–computer interaction (4 works) · Mathematics education (4 works) · Usability (4 works) · Artificial Intelligence (3 works) · Climate change (3 works) · Ecology (3 works)