Tif fany L. Hesser Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

iPADS IN THE LABORATORY: AN EXPERIENCE IN DESIGNING &

IMPLEMENTING A PAPERLESS LABORATORY CLASS

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

TECHNOLOGY IN THE K-12 CLASSROOM

With society’s current focus on STEM education and technology, there have been recent opportunities to incorporate technology into the learning

process at all levels.

•  93% of K-12 of schools having internet access opening the door for the use of educational game (Center for Digital Education, 2012)

•  Simulations and game-based scenarios enable students to apply what they have learned in a realistic environment and receive instant feedback

•  3D model manipulations of macromolecules such as DNA and proteins & use of white boards (Center for Digital Education, 2012)

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

TECHNOLOGY IN THE K-12 CLASSROOM

The Technology Outlook for STEM + Education 2012-2017 anticipates this trend to continue and additionally be used to assess student

learning in STEM topics (2012).

“Games have proven benefits in engaging learners of all ages and helping them better understand complex material. Taking that notion

one step further, simulations and game-based scenarios enable students to apply what they have learned in a realistic environment and

receive instant feedback” (New Media, 2012).

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

TECHNOLOGY AND HIGHER ED STUDENTS

While not all technology is fun and games, students in higher education are increasingly connected to technological devices.

•  A 2012 study showed that college-age students utilize at least three

technological devices daily and that most students don’t go more than an hour without using at least one of those devices.

•  The same study reported two thirds of students would welcome an increased use of technology in the learning process and many already utilize these devices for studying (Dunn, 2012).

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

iPADS IN THE CLASSROOM

In addition to increasing use in the K-12 sector, the iPad is becoming an important academic tool in higher education

(Johnson, L., Adams, S., & Cummins, M., 2012)

•  Saint Mary’s University Adult Learning

•  Duke University School of Nursing

•  University of Minnesota College of Education&Human Development

•  Seton Hall

•  Oklahoma State University

•  University of New Haven Honors Program

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

iPADS IN UNH CLASSROOMS

iPads were introduced to the Honors General Chemistry class as a pilot program by Dr. Pauline Schwartz and Matt Wranovix and was supported

by funding through the honors program.

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

IMPLEMENTATION OF iPAD IN THE LECTURE AND THE LAB

In the lecture…

•  Nearpod was used for presentations originally.

•  Students receive presentations, lecture notes and problems as .pdf through Blackboard and Dropbox.

•  Socrative “clicker” method. (http://vimeo.com/27564554)

•  My Point Pro for PowerPoint lecture, allows annotation from iPad to the display.

•  Ebook

•  Learn Smart and Connect

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

GOAL OF iPAD FOR LABORATORY USE

In the lab, it was decided that this integration of this technology would allow us to work in a completely paperless lab. No paper was used for laboratory preparation, during the lab, or to complete final lab reports. The goal was also to see how student worked with and enjoyed this technology.

•  To date, the use of iPads in college science laboratories has been limited

•  The iPad has made it was into academic research lab and industry •  Forensic Labs •  Research Labs (ELN)

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY DONE IN LAB

A laboratory notebook is a primary record of research. Researchers use a lab notebook to

•  document their hypotheses, experiments and initial analysis interpretation of these experiments.

The notebook serves as an: •  organizational tool , a memory aid and has a role in protecting

any intellectual property that comes from the research. Legal Aspect

•  To ensure that data cannot be easily altered, notebooks with permanently bound pages.

•  Researchers write only with pen, to sign and date each page

All of these guidelines can be useful in proving exactly when a discovery was made in the case of a patent dispute.

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY DONE IN LAB

In the chemistry labs, especially with freshman, we focus on keeping thorough laboratory notebooks. All student before coming to lab

•  read the provided lab procedure •  write the purpose in the lab notebook •  write procedure in the lab notebook

During lab, students

•  record all observations •  collect data •  completing calculations

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY DONE IN LAB

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

APPS THAT WERE UTILIZED

The amount of time that went into deciding which apps to utilize was significant.

•  Blackboard Mobile learn

•  UPAD

•  Dropbox

•  Cloud On

•  Chemist

•  Vernier Graphical Analysis

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

IMPLEMENTATION OF iPAD IN THE LECTURE AND THE LAB

The most difficult application to decide on was the one which would be used for the lab notebook. UPAD was chosen because it offered three important features.

Notebook-for note taking Bookpad- for converting to PDF Photopad- for observational photos

An over v iew of the steps students would take to complete lab.

FIGURE 1

Example of Student Notebooks

FIGURE 2

Student use in lab, ut i l i z ing Z ip loc bags for safety.

FIGURE 3

!

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

IMPLEMENTATION OF iPAD IN THE LECTURE AND THE LAB

On completion of the lab, students were required to get a signature, then move the file over to Bookpad, which converted it to a more permanent PDF. Lab reports, when informal, where filled out also using Bookpad, after downloading the file from Blackboard Mobile.

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

CORRECTING THE LABS ELECTRONICALLY

To support the paperless lab format, students were required to turn in labs using Dropbox.

•  Shared folder with each student.

•  Create a time stamp of

when they are turned in. •  It was important to

control the file names in order for this to work.

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

CORRECTING THE LABS ELECTRONICALLY

•  Use annotation to correct completed report.

•  Placed back in Dropbox

and override the previous file.

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

HOW DID IT WORK? STUDENT RESPONSES

Despite being the Millennial Generation comfortable with the use of modern technology, student encountered a steep learning curve during the first few

weeks of laboratory. •  “I don’t like how difficult it is to write. I got used to it after a while and a

lot of practice, but at the beginning, it was difficult to write without my palm touching the screen”

•  “the inability to look at two pages simultaneously/compare quickly

between data separated over several pages, hinders my work” & “I really am not a fan of the constant flipping back and forth between Drawpad and Bookpad or between documents to complete lab reports. I wish you could have two up at the same time”.

•  Moving swiftly between apps

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

HOW DID IT WORK? STUDENT RESPONSES

Students also had difficulty with the small details that the process required.

•  File names

•  Placing in Dropbox using correct format

•  Too picky about the lab notebook process

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

HOW DID IT WORK? INSTRUCTOR RESPONSES

There were many obstacles to overcome for me also, ones that I was really unaware of until everything started moving forward with the class.

•  Dropbox •  Grading

Student Sur vey Given Dur ing F i r st Semester wi th Posi t ive Feedback

¡ “I believe it has enhanced the lab experience: It forces you to use technology whether you really want to or not, and it makes you learn about different types of technologies on the iPad. Yes, it may be difficult to adjust at first, but as soon as you realize the value of this technology, you learn how great it really is.” -L.E.

¡ “Using the iPads in lab has been a positive experience. It is a stepping stone to a paperless future. I also like it because it is easy to organize. I can separate all of my documents into their appropriate folders and I can color code and make helpful visuals.”-A.G.

Student Sur vey Given Dur ing F i r st Semester wi th Posi t ive Feedback

¡  “I like that there are so many tools at my fingertips as far as writing utensils/colors/highlighters, apps such as timers, periodic table, and overall web access.  Undo and redo buttons make alterations quick and easy.  Overall I really appreciate exposure to the device as I believe being versed in its use as a tool will make me more competitive in the labor force.” -J.Z.

¡  “I love being able to take screenshots and pictures of lab tables and just copy it right into my notebook, as well as type things. It helps make my notebook look so neat and organized.”-L.E.

¡  It certainly saves so much paper! In the long run, it may be cheaper for everyone with the lack of paper used. I see how much paper my roommates use for their lab notebooks/reports...it 's insane!

¡  “I love this iPad. :) Thank you!”

Student Sur vey Resul ts Given Most Recent on L iker t Scale Model

Student Sur vey Resul ts Given Most Recent on L iker t Scale Model

Student Sur vey Resul ts Given Most Recent on L iker t Scale Model

University of New Haven – Leaders in Experiential Education

CONCLUSION

•  The paperless approach afforded by the use of iPads in the laboratory lessened the environmental impact of conducting labs. We estimate that more than 120 pages of paper per student were saved over the course of one semester of 11 lab experiments.

•  Our experience to date has been overwhelmingly positive we hope others will gain from our efforts to introduce iPads into laboratory science classes.