The Virtual Lab Research Project: A Pilot Initiative in Florida Aimed at Access

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The Virtual Lab Research Project A Pilot
Initiative in FloridaAimed at Access
Opportunity for all k-12 Students

• Oct., 2004
• Laura Blasi, Ph.D.
• Educational Research (ERTL) COE UCF
• lblasi_at_mail.ucf.edu

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Staff names Listed in speaking order

• Laura Blasi (UCF) Project Director
• Gregg Buckingham (NASA)
• Yedong Terry Tao (UCF) Project Manager
• Berta Alfonso (NASA)
• Shari Foster-Hennighan (UCF) 10th grade Biology

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When and How of the Project

• What is the Virtual Lab Research Project
  Timeline?
• This research project will take place in 3
  classrooms at your high school during the
  2004-2005 school year.
• Which three classrooms will participate?
• One tenth grade science classroom will
  participate with the usual technology
• Two tenth grade science classrooms will
  participate with the usual technology along with
  three extra computers.
• How will classrooms be selected to participate?
• Classrooms will be selected by the school
  administration based on the experience-levels of
  the teachers.

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Why you are hereOverview of Classes
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Overview of the project (Laura)

• The technology and the researcher time on the
  Virtual Lab pilot research study is funded by
  Bell South during the 2004-2005 school year.
• The Virtual Lab study is being conducted in nine
  10th grade public high school science classrooms
  in Orange county in Orlando, Florida. All
  classes are general education classes (not
  honors or AP).
• The study includes schools serving students from
  a range of socio-economic status levels, in order
  to document the impact of the Virtual Lab
  software and to contribute to the further
  development of the program using the voices of
  students as they use and react to the software.
• This study has been designed to contribute to the
  software development in conjunction with the
  efforts educational technology specialists at the
  Kennedy Space Center (KSC), NASA.

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Beyond the Pilot with Purpose

• VL is still being developed What happens when
  teachers and students are given this basic tool?
• Voices of teachers and students
• Students in general education, range of SES
• Future VL-related projects
• Relationship with UCF
• Relationship with NASA Kennedy Space Center

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What will students do?

• All students will participate in the following
  activities
• a) A survey in October and again in March
• b) Two interviews as needed by researchers and
  coordinated with the science teachers
• c) Classroom observations on video as needed by
  researchers, coordinated with the science
  teachers (A)
• Any additional interviews while using the two
  extra computers will be coordinated with the
  science teachers. (A)

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What will teachers do?

• If you agree to participate it means that you are
  willing to
• a) complete a maximum of three surveys regarding
  your experiences each lasting no longer than 30
  minutes,
• b) have participating students in your class or
  your class as a whole observed and taped (as
  arranged with you prior) and
• c) you are also choosing to participate in the
  interview portion of this study (four, each
  lasting no longer than 30 minutes).

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Purpose and benefits

• What is the purpose of this project?
• This project aims to document the use of the
  Virtual Lab (VL) software and to contribute to
  the further development of the program using the
  voices of students when they interact with the
  software.
• How does this benefit my school?
• Free software will be given to your school by
  NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), along with
  teacher training. In addition, six computers are
  being donated by UCF in conjunction with NASA KSC
  at the end of the school year.
• FCAT workshop

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Hands-on activities (Laura)

• Use your PowerPoint handouts and follow the 6
  steps with your partner.
• We will come by if you need help.
• We will stop after twenty minutes.

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Hands on ActivityHere are the navigation tools
againj
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1. You are on the first floor of the building.
Walk through the sliding doors outside and look
around.
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Good!2. Now walk back inside and on the first
floor find the photo on the wall with the girl
in it.
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4. What happens when you double right click on
the photo of the girl?
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5. Go upstairs and double-left click on the SEM.
What happens?
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6. This is the final step, double-right click to
activate the SEM (it will take a little time to
open). Explore until time is up.
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Discussion With your partner discuss

• 1. One possible idea for using VL in your class
• 2. One question you have about the project
• 3. We will have general discussion

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Next steps

• Oct. 11th week Install computers, drop off
  student and parent permission letters.
• Oct. 18th week Collect student and parent
  permission letters, survey given to students in
  your classes, Shari will contact you for an
  interview by phone, Terry will contact A
  teachers to set up classroom schedule.
• Oct. 25th week The FCAT workshop will be
  scheduled on a Wed. for all 10th grade Biology
  teachers in your school, through your school
  contact. Shari will begin classroom consultations
  into November.

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Wrap-up

• Survey
• IRB Permissions Letters
• Invoices (signed for reimbursement)

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Resources for You

• http//education.ksc.nasa.gov/edtech/vl.htm

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Contacts

• UCF Virtual Lab Project Staff
• Yedong Terry Tao, Project Manager,
  yedtao_at_mail.ucf.edu
• Laura Blasi, Project Director, lblasi_at_mail.ucf.edu
  , Office 407/823-1761
• The College of Education, The University of
  Central Florida (UCF)Department of Educational
  Research, Technology, and Leadership
  (ERTL)Education Complex Office 222B 4000
  Central Florida Blvd.PO Box 161250Orlando, FL
  32816-1250
• Also
• NASA KSC Contact Education Technology, Virtual
  Lab Project Manager
• Berta Alfonso, phone [phone]
  Berta.A.Alfonso_at_nasa.gov.