Teaching and Research Synergism: the Undergraduate Research Experience

This paper presents benefits of the undergraduate research experience as identified by current and former students. The benefits are compared with desired outcomes of the undergraduate educational experience as identified by others and illustrate that undergraduate research can enhance the undergraduate educational experience. An approach for incorporating undergraduate students into research is described. In this approach, students become involved in oral and written presentations of their work, and, with experience, even formulate and submit proposals. These educational benefits are realized in synergism with research activities, demonstrating the integration of teaching and research in the pursuit of scholarship. Thus, these student observations support the position that undergraduate research is a viable approach for enhancing the undergraduate educational experience while promoting the integration of teaching and research.