Laboratory with no limits Anytime Anywhere Real time

Laboratory with no limits: Anytime, Anywhere (Real -time Access Remote Laboratory Platform for

Outline > Learning Needs > Motivations > The remote laboratory platform • The concept • The components > Student feedbacks > Potential development

In Lab, 9 am to 5 pm

Expensive equipment High risk

Learning Needs > Science education is no doubt being the key issue in the NSS reform > Laboratory teaching is an indispensible part of science education • process of making observations • performing systematic and quantitative investigations with meticulous control of the experimental parameters, data collection and analysis • subsequent logical interpretation of results • drawing relevant conclusions • reinforcement of students’ classroom learning experiences

> Limited support of corresponding experiments in secondary schools • experiments may pose some risks associated with the handling of the apparatus and materials • Experiments that are conceptually simple, but technically challenging to achieve satisfactory results and prone to large errors • experimental setups that are highly specialized > Prefer demonstration or computer simulation to replace experiments > Students: solving examination problems performing experiments and data analysis > Real time hands-on experiments are undeniable

Platform? ? Anytime, Anywhere, More options, Completely safe.

Motivation > To build a platform with ‘experiments’ that can be accessed without time and physical constraints > To develop experimental setups either not normally installed in secondary schools or those often fail to yield satisfactory experimental results > To maximize the utilization of study time and equipment > To explore the potential impact on the laboratory learning experience of students > To provide a platform for conducting group-based investigative studies as well as science projects

Outcomes �Platform to facilitate real-time remote access of automated experiment setups �Unrestrained (time and physical location) laboratory learning experience �student-centered learning : perform experiment when they are ready (not when they are assigned) �Serve to supplement/complement the existing experiences in individual secondary schools/educator sector �Unique and pilot in secondary schools education

The Concept

Running an Experiment

https: //remotelab. ap. polyu. edu. hk User name + password

Anytime/ Anywhere 1 hr/experiment

Learning materials: Video Introduction + Objective + Theory + Lab. Manuel + Report

Both in English/Chinese

Real-time monitoring: webcam Experimental Techniques: Parameters setting, alignment

Existing experiments Earth Magnetic Field Ultrasound Electron charge-mass ratio measurement

Photo-electric Effect Radiation Interference/ diffraction

Impact on Students >350 university undergraduates >300 students in 10 secondary schools 34 students in Hong Kong Academy of Gifted Education Secondary schools Gifted students Universities

Some Positive Feedbacks > Participants were satisfied with the learning experience, > Online guidance is clear and learning materials are useful, > Appreciated the flexibility of the Remote Lab – anytime/anywhere > Participants could conduct the experiment more than once and obtain better results > Remote Lab is safe to conduct with low risk, such as radiation and photoelectric effect.

Some Negative Feedbacks > more user-friendly > webcam shown on the page could be larger, more viewpoints > unstable connections of the webcam > the content of some experiments is difficult (radiation and earth magnetic field) > Teachers give instruction and explanation during/immediately after Remote Lab. > Distant and unrealistic to perform experiments through the internet.

…More Opportunity

Potential Development > Alternative T&L platform/education resource center for secondary schools > Developing advanced experiments on elective Physics topics, e. g. Nanoworld, Medical Physics > Extend the platform to other science disciplines, e. g. Chemistry, Biology

New Development > Laboratory utilizing smart phones as detectors: physics experiments apps • various readily-available, high-quality integrated sensors available in the market: smart phones -mechanical sensors (mainly accelerometers), light & sound detectors • apps programs (in market) are only used to collect data but not perform physics experiments • students can do their Physics experiments with no limit i. e. anytime and anywhere at their own convenience

Microphone clamped on a ruler and connected with Sound Analyzer Device with “Sound Generator” Running Open end tube Device with “Sound Analyzer” Running

Acknowledgement

New Development