Sauman Chu
Sue Chu is an associate professor in the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel (DHA) at the University of Minnesota. Chu teaches courses in graphic design and multimedia and has been practicing graphic design for 18 years. Her creative production work has received regional and national awards. She has received two e-scholarship grants from the College of Human Ecology and seed grants from GRAVEL (Game Research and Virtual Environment Lab) to examine game design in relation to teaching.
Teaching Activities
Interests
Chu's teaching interests include:
- applying technology solutions to design problems;
- animation;
- digital illustration;
- Web page design; and
- identity design.
University Courses
She has taught the following University of Minnesota courses:
- Computer Drawing, Summer Honors College for High School Students;
- DHA 1315: Foundations III: The Graphic Studio;
- DHA 2311: Drawing and Illustration;
- DHA 2334: Computer Applications I: Digital Composition for Design;
- DHA 2351: Graphic Design I: Text and Image;
- DHA 3352: Graphic Design II: Identity and Symbols;
- DHA 4170: Internship in DHA;
- DHA 4334: Computer Applications II: Digital Composition for Design;
- DHA 4354: GD IV Integrative Campaign;
- DHA 5381: Digital Illustration;
- DHA 5383: Animation;
- DHA 8192: Readings in DHA;
- DHA 8362: The Nature of Representation in Visual Communication;
- DHA 8777: Thesis;
- DHA 8990: MFA Creative Thesis;
- HE 4150: Honors Seminar: Signs and Symbols in Chinese Culture; and
- Webpage Design Seminar, Residential College.
Research Activities
Interests
Chu's research focuses on multiculturalism and its influence on design education. Research projects that support this focus include cross-cultural comparisons of visual perception and understanding of symbols; design variables in multilingual printed materials; design of symbols in computer games; and classroom teaching strategies. Her recent research focuses on the influence of computer games on teaching in higher education.
TEL Publications and Presentations
Chu, S., and B. Martinson. "Examining the Design of Symbols in Strategy Games." Paper presented at the Joint Conference of the National Popular Culture and American Culture Associations, San Diego, CA, March 2005.
Martinson, B., and S. Chu. "Learning Style and Content Delivery Methods." Paper presented at the 5th Annual MERLOT International Conference, Nashville, TN, July 2005.
Fellowship Project
Enhancement of Student Learning Through the Exploration and Creation of Game-Based Learning Modules
Teaching Challenge
For students majoring in pre-graphic design, one of the major learning problems is their inability to apply what they have learned about design principles and theory in one course to projects in another course dealing with a different design format. For some students, it seems that a disconnection occurs. This might be due to various learning styles or to the structure of the curriculum.
Technology Solution
The purpose of this project is to create game-based learning modules that will be used to support teaching and learning in DHA foundation courses. These foundation courses are required before students can submit their work for the portfolio review. The learning modules will accommodate different learning styles. Students will understand and apply design theory and principles in different design environments and be able to learn and work with the material as frequently as needed. All instructors will be able to use the modules as teaching tools. Most importantly, these learning modules will greatly improve students' abilities to transfer concepts they learn in one design situation to other design situations.
Consultation Areas
Chu is able to consult with faculty members about the following educational technology topics:
- developing online presentations and animations;
- designing WebCT pages;
- evaluating the usability of interface designs;
- evaluating the design of online content (text and image integration);
- evaluating the content of online presentations for diverse audiences; and
- organizing educational technology projects.
Contact Information
- Office: 240 McNeal Hall, St. Paul campus
- Telephone: (612) 624-9705
- E-mail: schu@che.umn.edu
