Remote Online Labs: A New Model for Teaching and Learning Scientific Practices MP4 Video Consortium for Healthcare Education Online Faculty Professional Development Webinar September 16, 2013

To overcome some of the challenges to effective and broadly accessible science labs, iLab Central developed a cyberlearning tool (www.ilabcentral.org) that enables students to use real experimental devices housed in a central or remote location via a web browser. Because remote labs are available 24/7 in the "cloud", students can carry out their lab assignments from any location with Internet access, providing significantly more lab time with greater flexibility of access, and improved inquiry learning outcomes. Moreover, remote online labs provides students with the opportunity to engage in more authentic scientific inquiry tasks and supports broader exposure to science and engineering professions. From a scalability and sustainability perspective, many students can be supported with limited equipment. A regional or national strategy for providing access to science labs can now be contemplated. Jona discussed remote online labs and how they address the challenges faced in providing all students with access to high quality STEM laboratory experiences. A live demonstration of a remote lab was shared, followed by a discussion about the effectiveness of remote labs in supporting the learning scientific practices and some interesting comparisons with simulations. Kemi Jona delivered this professional development webinar on September 16, 2013 to Consortium for Healthcare Education Online (CHEO) faculty. About the Presenter: Kemi Jona is a Research Professor of Learning Sciences and Computer Science at Northwestern University and Director of the Office of STEM Education Partnerships where he leads research and development projects in STEM curriculum design, cyberlearning, online and blended learning models, and new game-based approaches to engaging youth in STEM. The author of numerous book chapters, articles, and conference papers on the topics of online learning, curriculum design, remote labs, and learning technology and strategy, he holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Northwestern University and a BS with Honors in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.