Teaching Undergraduate Science Labs Worldwide Julie Tolman Thompson, PhD March 26th, 2018

Outline Online Laboratory Context General Course Design Considerations Solution Type I: Laboratory Kits Solution Type II: Instrumentation Integrated Assessment Design Solution Type III: Simulation Solution Type IV: Digital Content Open Educational Resources (OER) Undergraduate Research Projects (BSNS) Discussion Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

American Public University System Large, 4-year Institution 88,000+ students Based in Charles Town, WV Regionally accredited by HLC 100% Online Curriculum 200+ Degrees & Certificates Undergraduate Graduate Masters Doctoral (2018) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Our Students & Schedule Average Age = 33 Average Class Size = 19 88% working adults 77% Active Duty, Guard, Reserve & Veterans Variable Scheduling Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Course Design Considerations Our courses must be: Designed for the online environment Academically rigorous Scalable Accessible worldwide Cost effective Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

General Course Design Considerations In general, when selecting solutions for science laboratory courses consider these factors first: Course Learning Objectives Course Logistics Number of Students per Course Type of Course Budget Then Select the Right Tool for the Right Job! Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Examples Disclaimer: The laboratory solutions discussed are based on our experience over the last 5+ years We are not advocating for specific vendors and are not sponsored by them Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type I: Laboratory Kits Useful mostly in majors courses; hybrid or fully online courses Benefits Replicates the on-campus activities Hands-on skills are developed Scalable Challenges Limited customization Logistics Cost Credit Image: eScience Labs (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type I: Laboratory Kits Vendor Options: • eScience Labs • Carolina Biological Credit Image: eScience Labs (2017) Credit Image: Carolina Biological (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type II: Instrumentation Useful mostly in majors courses, fully online courses Benefits Replicates the on-campus activities Hands-on skills are developed Scalable Challenges Cost Requires ancillary equipment Technology integration Credit Image: Vernier (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type II: Instrumentation Specific Example: Vernier instrumentation in majors-level general biology, general chemistry, physics, and physical geology courses LabQuest 2 Additional probes added in each course Credit Image: Vernier (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Sample Student Submissions Images provided by J. Brinson

Assessment Lab Reports Written Video Assignments submitted to LMS (Sakai) Specifically teaching labs fully online provides unique opportunity for assessment with our lab kits and instrumentation solutions In a traditional lab class there is a dynamic that strong personalities that take charge and do the dissections or titrations, experiments and others that take a back seat. Student in lab APUS lab classes complete written and video lab reports. -opportunity, as well as the accountability to demonstrate their proficiency Video for pronunciation to learn to speak science terminology which is often a limitation in online science courses. Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Assessment Grading Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Anatomy & Physiology Lab Assignment VIDEOS of STUDENT LAB ASSIGNMENTS HERE Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type III: Lab Simulation Useful in majors, non-majors, on-ground, hybrid & fully online courses Benefits Active learning Adaptive learning Computation and Technology Skills Scalable Auto-generated lab reports Challenges Limited options Cost* Accessibility Credit Image: SmartSparrow (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type III: Lab Simulation Spectrum of interaction and control Passive Active Guided Adaptive Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type III: Lab Simulation Specific Example: PhysioEx in Human Biology course Credit Image: Pearson (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type III: Lab Simulation Specific Example: Genetic simulation lab in non-majors introductory biology course (McGraw Hill LearnSmart Labs) Credit Image: McGraw Hill (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type III: Lab Simulation Specific Example: Simulation in majors evolution course (SimBio) Credit Image: SimBio Virtual Labs (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type IV: Digital Content Useful in majors, non-majors, fully online courses Benefits Visual representation of 3 dimensional content Real life quality Engaging Challenges Limited options Cost Accessibility Image Credit: Thinkwell (2017) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type IV: Digital Content Specific Example: Digital content in anatomy course Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Solution Type IV: Digital Content Specific Example: Digital content in chemistry course (Thinkwell Video Tutorials) Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

OER: Open Educational Resources Benefits: Openly licensed Cost- free Collaboratively developed Challenges: Instruction and assessment development Quality and accuracy of material Technology maintenance Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Examples OER for Science Labs HHMI Biointeractive PhET Concord Consortium DNA Learning Center Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Undergraduate Science Research @ APUS All BS Natural Sciences students are required to complete a research project prior to graduation SCIN400 Research Methods SCIN499 Senior Seminar Students have collected labware and instrumentation throughout their degree program Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Student Project Examples Water Quality Sleep & Reaction Time Winter Deer Habitat Use DNA Extraction Protocols Plant Growth Rates Sediment Deposition Rates Tooth Enamel Deterioration Frog Developmental Genetics

Faculty Directed Research Programs Develop long term research programs Utilize citizen science & large public databases

Then Select the Right Tool for the Right Job! Summary Effective laboratory experiences can be conduced at a distance. Consider these factors first: Course Learning Objectives Course Logistics Number of Students per Course Type of Course Budget Then Select the Right Tool for the Right Job! Copyright © 2017 American Public University System. All rights reserved.

Instructional Approaches for Distance Science Laboratory Courses Julie Thompson, PhD julie.thompson@mycampus.apus.edu (678) 390-0821