The North American Network of Science Labs Online (NANSLO) received a $750,000 grant from the Next Generation Learning Challenges to develop open online science courses integrating remote web-based labs. NANSLO aims to provide high-quality online biology, chemistry, and physics courses for underserved students through a consortium of institutions in the US and Canada. The project will deliver three open courses, lab kits for students, and resources for expanding the network of partner institutions and remote science education.
Unit-IV; Professional Sales Representative (PSR).pptx
North American Network of Science Labs Online
1. NANSLO:
WORKING
TOGETHER
INTERNATIONALLY
Moderator: Patricia Shea, WICHE (CO)
Presenter: Paul Stacey, BCcampus (British Columbia)
Presenter: Dan Branan, Colorado Community College System (CO)
October 27, 2011
2. Next Generation Learning Challenges
The North American Network of Science Labs Online (NANSLO) was
selected from more than 600 Wave I pre-proposals and 50 finalists
15-month, $750,000 grant
One of two international projects funded
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation helped design Next Generation Learning Challenges and fund
the initiative
Multiyear, collaborative initiative focused on identifying and accelerating
the growth of effective education technology that can help improve
college readiness and completion in the United States, especially among
low-income individuals
NGLC is focused on early-stage innovations that look promising but
require significant technology investments
EDUCAUSE, dedicated to advancing higher education through the use of
technology, leads the NGLC initiative
3. The Numbers: Online Learning
21% growth rate for online enrollment
far exceeds the 2% growth in the overall
higher education student population
2010 Sloan Survey of Online Learning*
interviewed 2,500 colleges and
universities nationwide
Approximately 5.6 million students were
enrolled in at least one online course in
fall 2009
Nearly 30% of all students take at least
one online course
Over 75% of surveyed academic leaders
in public institutions report that online
instructions is as good as or better than Allen, Elaine, and Jeff Seaman. Class Difference$.
face-to-face instruction Rep. BABSON Survey Research Group, Nov. 2010.
Web. 26 Aug. 2011.
<http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey
/class_differences>.
4. Remote Access to Scientific
Instrumentation
Remote access to scientific instrumentation has been
in practice for many years
NASA Mars Rover and Space Station
Remote Sensing in Oceanographic Study
5. Remote Access to Scientific Laboratories
Remote access to science lab
equipment started in the mid-
1990s in higher education
Wide-spread adoption is slow
Perception that “remote” is not
“real”
Initial cost of equipment and
maintenance
Technical complexity
Strong student outcomes
challenge perceptions
Remote lab pedagogy is
evolving
6. Benefits of Remote Laboratories
Remote access benefits underserved students
Rural, disabled, and working students with difficult
schedules can access scientific experiments 24x7
Networked laboratories promote efficiency
Expensive scientific resources are shared by multiple
institutions and scheduled for maximum efficiency
Students enjoy benefits of remote access
Extended opportunity for repeated experimentation
Preferred over use of simulations
Equipment and materials are controlled
Access to expensive or dangerous materials
7. NANSLO Mission Statement
NANSLO provides a consortium approach to the
development and deployment of high-quality,
modular, openly licensed courseware integrating
learner-centered and immersive web-based labs
using software, video and robotics for the study of
science courses
8. North American Network of Science Labs Online - NANSLO
British
Wyoming
Columbia
Montana Colorado
8
12. NANSLO Deliverables
Three open courses including course curriculum and
laboratory experiments for first-semester biology,
chemistry & physics
NANSLO Network & Expansion Resources
establishes a federated network of US and Canadian post-
secondary institutions collectively collaborating on and using open
core science courses and remote web-based science labs.
Environmental Scan of remote science education labs in the US and
Canada
How-to adoption manual of case studies, policies and procedures that
others can use to guide their own adoption of RWSL
Scale network template that provides guidance on scaling use of remote
labs across all institutions collaborating in NANSLO as well as a
sustainability model.
Evaluator Report
13. Remote Web-Based Science Laboratories
• Allows participation in laboratory experiments for students
who may otherwise be unable to attend a traditional
classroom/laboratory setting
• Students interact with and
manipulate remote scientific
laboratory equipment
• Class works in small groups
or individually to collect
authentic real-world
scientific data in real time
• Ideally, students feel like
they are “in the lab”, or at
least, “in the next room”
14. Lab Kits for Remote Student Use
Students are provided
with all laboratory
equipment necessary
for remote
experimentation
Physics lab kit example
15. Equipment for Remote Access
Lab Server (required)
Desktop computer, Video archive storage
National Instruments’ LabVIEWwith virtual instruments
Video/Audio (required)
Cameras, Capture Card, Video Multiplexer, Streaming
Audio/Video Server
Various Hardware
Frame, Robotic Slides and Tables Robotic Positioning Slides
and Rotary Tables, Robotic Arm, Spectrometer, Digital
Microscope, Air Track
16. RWSL Overview
Observation
Video/Audio Physical
Students
Observation Manipulation
Manipulation
Lab
Internet RWSL Equipment
Data
Communications Data Acquisition
16
Text Chat
Skype
Elluminate
16
17. Observation
Pan Tilt Zoom Camera
Video Streamer
Video Mixer
17
19. Data Acquisition
Chemistry/Physics
Spectrometer – properties
of light such as intensity,
polarization, wavelength
LabVIEW Software
19
20. NANSLO Considerations for the Future
Further partners & funding are being sought for expansion of North
American Network, ideas include:
Continuation and expansion of discipline panels of faculty collaborating
on development of open courses
A development “sand box” environment for faculty to explore RWSL
hands on and devise new experiments
Developing or adopting an open textbook for the open biology, chemistry
and physics courses
Expanding development of online science courses using the RWSL from
first year to second, third, and fourth years toward a complete credential
Partnering with other existing science lab online initiatives to broaden
the areas of science beyond physics, biology, and chemistry to other
scientific domains
Instructionally designing a pedagogy that optimally blends lab kits,
simulations, and RWSL
Sustaining and expanding the RWSL as a shared service to rural
students/tribal councils, other institutions or states/provinces
21. CONTACT INFORMATION
Pat Shea, NANSLO PI
pshea@wiche.edu, 303.541.0302
Catherine Weldon, NANSLO Project Coordinator
cweldon@wiche.edu, 303.541.0220
Project Overview
http://www.wiche.edu/nanslo
NANSLO Wiki
http://nanslo.pbworks.com
Notas do Editor
The trend is clear. Online course delivery is here to stay. The same report indicates that 63% of institutions polled by Babson Survey Research Group indicated that online learning is a “critical part” of long term strategy.Reports from public institution chief academic officers asked to rate the learning outcomes associated with online education have improved steadily since the survey was first offered in 2003.
During the mid 1990’s online learning became a hot topic. The idea of applying “tel-control” to the use of lab equipment remotely was part of new movement.*The use of remote science instrumentation is not new in industrial research. NASA experiments via the Space Station, Mars Exploration Rover, and other space science applications have used remotely manipulated robotics for years.**Just as online learning struggled against the perception that it was not ‘real,’ the integration of science laboratory experiments into online learning mechanisms has generated concern from faculty. * Lindsay, E.D., and M.C. Good. "Effects of Laboratory Access Modes Upon Learning Outcomes." IEEE Transactions on Education 48.4 (2005): 619-31. Print.** Doody, Dave. "Chapter 12. Typical Science Instruments." Redirect Basics of Space Flight Section II. Space Flight Projects. NASA. Web. 01 Sept. 2011. <http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf12-1.php>.
Proponents of online learning in the early days struggled against the perception that online learning was inferior to face-to-face.The use of online science laboratory experiences into online learning mechanisms has generated concern from faculty.
The overall goal of the NANSLO project is to extend access to University-level science education for many previously underserved learner audiences. We aim to do this through the integration of first-semester core curriculum with innovative distance delivery technologies
The NANSLO project will duplicate the efforts of the BCcampus teamin Colorado and further develop RWSL technology.
NANSLO PARTNERSThere are eight primary partners in the NANSLO project: WICHE, BCcampus, Colorado Community College System, Montana State University, University of Wyoming, Laramie County Community College, Colorado School of Mines, MSU-Great Falls College of Technology. BCcampus and Colorado Community College System bring faculty from multiple of their consortia members.
Our objectives include:Developing high-quality first-semester core curriculum for Biology, Chemistry, & PhysicsDeveloping comprehensive lab learning experiences which meet learning outcomes while accommodating flexible delivery optionsIntegrating innovative technologies for mediating science learning, including remote equipment (RWSL technology) and lab kits
licensing of resources - Creative Commons vs. BC Commons - Paul
RWSL is a critical part of the NANSLO missionHopefully, we can avoid an overwhelming experience by designing the interface to be simple and easy to understand.
It is not the objective of RWSL to displace current laboratory experiments, but to enhance the laboratory experience where possible. Many laboratory education objectives can be met adequately with lab kits such as this one pictured here. Laboratory experiments are carried out via use of LabKits or remote access via web-based software to laboratory equipment. LabPaq is the vendor providing laboratory kits for the Colorado Community College System. Each kit comes complete with all equipment required for each laboratory assignment.
The unique portion of the RWSL, compared to similar efforts, is the real-time, low-latency audio/video observation. This is also the greatest challenge with current internet speed and bandwidth limitations