Virtual Laboratory’s at Charles Sturt University

Professor Barney DalgarnoCo-Director uImagine Digital Learning Innovation LaboratoryCharles Sturt University

Overview•The Virtual Chemistry Laboratory (2000-2005)

•Demo

•Evaluation of use by Distance Education students

•Technology platform

•Enhancements explored

•Proposal for an open and extensible virtual laboratory platform

The Virtual Chemistry Laboratory• Focus on preparation for

laboratory sessions

• Modelled on the undergraduate laboratory on Wagga Wagga campus

• Ability to collect, assemble and manipulate apparatus

• Information about apparatus and safety procedures embedded

Demo

Demo

Demo

Demo

Demo

Demo

Demo

Evaluation by Distance Students• Students sent the Virtual Laboratory on CD

• Undertook exploratory activities using the Virtual Laboratory ahead of their residential school

• Questionnaire on its effectiveness in preparing for residential school

• Interviews to discuss the issues in more depth

• Experimental design to compare preparation in the real lab with the virtual lab with another cohort

Evaluation Results

• No significant difference between virtual laboratory and real laboratory in apparatus identification, location or overall lab familiarity

• Students using the Virtual Lab found it to be a valuable preparatory tool (57%) and indicated they would recommend it to other students (68%)

• A minority said it improved their confidence (41%) or reduced anxiety (32%) in the laboratory

Dalgarno, B., Bishop, A.G., Adlong, W., & Bedgood Jr, D.R. (2009). Effectiveness of a virtual laboratory as a preparatory resource for distance education chemistry students. Computers and Education, 53(3), 853-865.

Technology platform

• Virtual Reality Modelling Language

• VRML Script User Interface

• Blaxxun Contact Extensions

• Java Script Menu System• Dalgarno, B. (2005). A VRML Virtual Chemistry

Laboratory Incorporating Reusable Prototypes for Object Manipulation. SimTect 2005, the annual conference of the Simulation Industry Association of Australia. Available: http://www.siaa.asn.au/get/2411855836.pdf.

Enhancements Explored

- Virtual Experiments- Student Avatars- Personified Agents

Enhancements Explored

– Virtual PDA for communication with peers, video demonstrations, and access to tools

Lee, M. J. W., & Dalgarno, B. (2011). Scaffolding discovery learning in 3D virtual environments: Challenges and considerations for instructional design. In S. Hai-Jew (Ed.), Virtual immersive and 3D learning spaces: Emerging technologies and trends (pp. 138–169). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.

Next steps: An open and extensible platform for virtual bioscience laboratories – Australian Office for Learning and Teaching grant application

•A navigable 3D interface;

•Multi-user capabilities supporting collaboration and in-environment demonstrations;

•Formative and summative feedback on activity while undertaking experiments and on conceptual understanding using learning analytics techniques;

•An open platform enabling free adoption by the sector and ongoing extension and expansion; and

•A user-extensible and user-configurable architecture.