Winner: 2022 Horizon Prize for Education
Bond Chemical Education Team
Bond University
For the development of gamified virtual laboratory experiments that enhance student engagement, laboratory self-efficacy and theoretical understanding.
We have created a series of virtual laboratory experiments aimed at school and university learners. These experiments combine 360-degree virtual tours and embedded interactive videos which students can navigate in their own time. The high level of interactivity, gamification, and step-by-step instruction uniquely provides a genuine laboratory teaching environment with the accessibility of digital resources.
The virtual laboratories are free to access on our website, 鈥淭he Virtual Scientist鈥�, which averages approximately 2,000 views per month since the website was launched in late 2021. Thus, this project is able to benefit many students around the world by ensuring that science education is accessible to all.
Biography
The Virtual Laboratory is a collaboration between Dr Stephanie Schweiker, Dr Stephan Levonis and Dr Amanda Tauber.
These resources, which are free and easy to access, help us move towards global equality in science education, where students are no longer hindered by the resources available.
Bond Chemical Education Team
Q&A
What different strengths did different people bring to the team?
Dr Stephan Levonis: Discovering fresh technologies combined with computational skills allowed me to create our repository, The Virtual Scientist. This has enabled us to increase the accessibility to our resources, while being able to manage everything in-house.
Dr Stephanie Schweiker: I was able to bring my knowledge and experience from teaching chemistry laboratories into the design and structure of the virtual laboratories. My project management skills were crucial to our success.
Dr Amanda Tauber: In this team, I was able to use my skills in multimedia and video design to help ensure that the video portions of the virtual laboratories were engaging and interactive. I was able to apply this through my skills in video editing, and embedding of quizzes throughout to enhance engagement.
Where do you see the biggest impact of this project being?
Dr Stephan Levonis: The impact of this resource can be seen locally, nationally, and internationally, with approximately 2,000 views per month from across the globe since the website was launched in late 2021. These resources, which are free and easy to access, help us move towards global equality in science education, where students are no longer hindered by the resources available.
How do you see this work developing over the next few years, and what is next for this initiative/project?
Dr Stephanie Schweiker: Within the next 3鈥�5 years, we will continue expanding our library of virtual laboratories, working towards having a complete library of virtual laboratories for the Queensland schooling system. By incorporating stakeholder feedback in an evidence-based approach, we will customise the laboratories for the specific learning outcomes of the subjects and the most beneficial pedagogical approach for that grade. At this stage, we will also begin incorporating other resources into The Virtual Scientist, such as virtual reality, worksheets and other activities. This way, we will ensure that the tools available on The Virtual Scientist stay relevant, engaging and useful to the domestic and international science community.
What inspires or motivates your team?
Dr Stephan Levonis: For me, this work just feels natural. I don鈥檛 need extra motivation, it鈥檚 like breathing. I think this comes from the evident benefits of these resources. By continuing this work, we are actively building towards reduced inequality in science education while improving the scholarship of learning and teaching.
Dr Stephanie Schweiker: I agree, it is so important that each student gets the opportunity to engage with science, and although we currently design these resources for the QLD curriculum, the learnings are applicable to many education systems around the world.
What are the qualities that make your team special?
Dr Stephan Levonis: I think it鈥檚 the fact that we have such a good combination of skills which makes this team work really well together. I have the technological knowhow; Stephanie has strong understanding of chemical education and the drive to see this project succeed. Then, Amanda has the design and multimedia experience which allows her to know what goes into making a good video, especially for this generation of students. This diversity in our skill set means that this work is really enjoyable to do, and we know that together we can overcome any roadblock.