Visionlearning: Building an open online learning environment for promoting the nature and practice of science

Nathan Lents & Anthony CarpiJohn Jay College, The City University of New York

The Power of Online Learning: Opportunities for Tomorrow

October 30, 2009

Shortcomings of Textbooks

“a mile wide and an inch thick”

-Project 2061, AAAS

Expensive

Visionlearning

Library

> 70 modules

Modules

MyClassroom

Visionlearning

Science GlossaryiPhone® app

Carpi, 2001, J. Coll. Sci. Teach.

Quantitative EvaluationMean Assessment Quiz Scores in 8 sections of NSC107

 (n = 454) Group 1: Group 1: Sections Sections

Using Using VisionlearniVisionlearni

ng ng

Group 2: Group 2: Sections Sections

Using Prior Using Prior Web & Text Web & Text

Group 3: Group 3: Section Section Using Using

Textbook Textbook Only Only

Quiz Quiz Score by Score by Section ± Section ± 95% CI95% CI

77 ± 377 ± 376 ± 476 ± 478 ± 3 78 ± 3

62 ± 562 ± 561 ± 361 ± 366 ± 566 ± 563 ± 463 ± 4

55 ± 655 ± 6

MeanMean 77 ± 277 ± 2 63 ± 263 ± 2 55 ± 655 ± 6

Carpi, 2001, J. Coll. Sci. Teach.

Quantitative EvaluationMean Quiz Scores Categorized by Web Site Use

Site Site UseUse

Often: Often: >>1x/1x/week week

OccasionOccasional: al:

1-2x/mon1-2x/month th

Seldom:Seldom:1-2x1-2x

NeveNever r

Mean Mean Score ± Score ± 95% CI95% CI

76 ± 276 ± 2 68 ± 568 ± 5 64 ± 464 ± 4 61 ± 61 ± 22

Alberts, 2009, Science,

Purpose of Science Education?

• 1990’s, both AAAS and the NRC develop science education standards that included components of the nature and process of science (AAAS, 1993; NRC, 1996). • Yet, “Rather than learning how to think scientifically, students are generally being told about science and asked to remember facts.”

The Process of ScienceSelected Key Concepts

• Science is a process of investigation into the natural world and the knowledge generated through that process.

• Scientific theories are testable explanations supported by multiple lines of evidence.

• Scientific knowledge evolves with new evidence and perspectives.• Science benefits from the creativity, curiosity, diversity, and diligence

of individuals. • The community of science engages in debate and mitigates human

errors.• Uncertainty is inherent in nature, but scientists work to minimize and

quantify it in data collection and analysis.• Scientists value open and honest communication in reporting

research.

The Process of ScienceModules Developed

Science• The Nature of Scientific Knowledge*• Theories, Hypotheses, & Laws†

• Scientists & the Scientific Community• Scientific Institutions• Scientific Controversy*• Scientific Ethics

Scientific Communication• Journals & Articles• The Literature• Peer Review

Research Methods• Comparison• Description• Experimentation• Modeling

Data• Analysis & Interpretation• Uncertainty, Error & Confidence• Statistics• Using Graphs & Visual Data

†In press, *In development

Process of Science in NSC107

•Incorporation of 10 “Process” modules:• 5 Research Methods modules;• 4 Data & Analysis modules;• Understanding Scientific Journals.

• Integration of data and research into the curriculum instead of simply outcomes

Pre-Assessment

Main point of science?• Use of experimentation to solve or understand scientific equations.• Scientific method is the basis of all scientific experimentation.• How to make an experiment.• Experimenting.• How to experiment with research.

Post-Assessment

Main point of science?

• One of the main things I will take away is that I know the functions of science. Perhaps that[s] all, but before I felt that I did not know much, but now I know how and why certain things happen. Overall, in order to know things, not just in science, research is necessary, time, interest, dedication and ultimately a group and foundation of people working together.

• The main thing I will take away is a different perspective on things. Science was always taught only one way, and that was it. There was no variation or anything. This class allowed me to see science in another light.

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Next Steps

• Implement targeted Process instruction in treatment-control scenario in Freshman Chemistry and Freshman Biology – Fall 2009

• Impact on science understanding• Impact on course content comprehension

Acknowledgements

• U.S. Department of Education FIPSE program

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