Teaching Lab Science Courses Online : Resources for Best Practices, Tools, and Technology

by Jeschofnig, Linda; Jeschofnig, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780470607046
• ISBN10: 0470607041
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-08
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

There is a demand for higher education online lab science courses. This important resource offers administration and faculty a hands-on guide for overcoming their resistance to creating such courses. The book includes information for developing effective courses and guidance for using the tools and learning management systems such as web 2.0 technologies including video presentations, e-mail, discussion boards, Google apps, Skype, video/web conferencing, and social media networking. The author also shows how to teach all parts of a science course, not only the lab.

Author Biography

Linda Jeschofnig, a retired college educator, is the founder and CEO of Hands-On Labs, Inc., an industry leader in distance science experimentation that designs and produces academically aligned LabPaqs for college and high school distance science courses. Peter Jeschofnig is professor emeritus of chemistry and physics at Colorado Mountain College, an adjunct physics professor for CCCOnline, and the cofounder of Hands-On Labs, Inc. He is also founder and director of the nonprofit Institute for Excellence in Distance Science Education (IEDSE).

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
The Need for Online Science	p. x
The Purpose of This Book	p. xi
The Organization of This Book	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xv
About the Authors	p. xvii
Why Teach Science Online?	p. 1
Science Is Integrative	p. 2
Science Teaches Problem-Solving Skills	p. 2
Why Science Is Not Often Taught Online: It's the Lab Component!	p. 3
Why Science Experimentation Is Important	p. 5
Change Is Hard	p. 8
Moving Labs Off Campus	p. 9
Learning With Off-Campus Labs	p. 11
If Education's Future Is Online, Lab Sciences Must Be Taught Online!	p. 11
Perhaps Campuses Are Passé	p. 13
Teaching Science: Online Versus Face to Face	p. 17
I Can't See You	p. 17
Online Communication Is Different	p. 18
Online Communication Is Delayed	p. 18
Online Communication Is Meaningful	p. 19
Where Is the Lab?	p. 20
Technology Makes It Possible	p. 21
Overcoming Obstacles to Teaching Science Online	p. 22
Specific Tools and Software for Teaching Online Science	p. 37
Learning Management Systems	p. 38
Video-Conferencing Tools	p. 39
Wikis	p. 42
Academic Integrity Tools	p. 43
Social-Networking Tools	p. 43
Science-Specific Tools	p. 44
Online Science Lab Options: Pros, Cons, and Effectiveness	p. 47
The Objectives of Science Laboratory Experiences	p. 48
Traditional Campus Labs	p. 48
Simulations and Virtual Labs	p. 51
Remote Access Labs	p. 53
Hybrid Labs	p. 55
Kitchen Science Labs	p. 57
Instructor-Assembled Labs	p. 60
Commercially Assembled Lab Kits	p. 61
The Art of Teaching an Online Science Course	p. 67
Start With a Comprehensive Syllabus	p. 67
Interactive Presentations	p. 74
Online Discussion Boards	p. 76
Promoting Academic Integrity in Online Science Courses	p. 85
Set the Stage for Academic Integrity	p. 87
Tools to Prevent or Reduce Cheating	p. 88
Eliminate the Necessity for Dishonesty	p. 92
Minimize and Detect Cheating on Lab Work and Lab Reports	p. 92
Student Tracking Data	p. 94
The Art of Incorporating Online Lab Assignments	p. 99
How Many Experiments to Perform	p. 99
Using Computer Simulations with Online Science Courses	p. 100
Using Kitchen Labs and Instructor-Assembled Kits with Online Science Courses	p. 108
Using Commercial Lab Kits with Online Science Courses	p. 110
Incorporating Lab Experiments and Lab Reports into the Online Course	p. 116
The Evidence Supporting Off-Campus Science Labs	p. 121
Online Science Success at Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ	p. 123
Online Science Success at Colorado Mountain College	p. 125
Online Science Success at Herkimer County Community College, NY	p. 126
Online Teaching Advice from the Pros	p. 129
Anatomy and Physiology Professor Dr. Laszlo Vass	p. 129
Chemistry Professors Dr. Paul Vorndam and Dr. Peter Jeschofnig	p. 130
Microbiology and A & P Professor Dr. Cindy Jones	p. 132
Physics Professor Rusty Roe	p. 134
Biology Professor Kate Lormand	p. 135
Geology Professor Trina Riegel	p. 136
Biology Professor Marge Vorndam	p. 138
The Tipping Point for Online Science Is Now!	p. 141
Appendix: A Case Study from Start to Finish: The Why and How of Placing Microbiology Completely Online at Ocean County College	p. 147
References	p. 163
Index	p. 169
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