This document discusses an e-lab platform that aims to promote student interest in science education through hands-on experimentation and new technologies. The e-lab platform allows teachers and students to remotely access and control physical experiments in real-time from any location. Several initial experiments are available on the platform, and the document outlines plans to develop additional experiments and educational resources to better engage students and relate scientific concepts to everyday life from primary school levels. Workshops are also held to train teachers on how to use the e-lab interface and design experimental lesson plans. The goal is for the e-lab platform to help shift science education towards a more contextual and meaningful approach.

1. Sérgio C. Leal1,2
, João P. Leal1,3
, Horácio Fernandes4
1
Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, FCUL, Lisboa, Portugal
2
Escola Secundária Padre António Vieira, Lisboa, Portugal
3
Unidade de Ciências Químicas e Radiofarmacêuticas, ITN, Sacavém, Portugal
4
Departamento de Física, IST, Lisboa, Portugal
E-mail: sergioleal20@gmail.com
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HANDS-ON SCIENCE 2009
Ahmedabad, October 2009
Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science

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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Introduction
• Students questions seem to disappear along with
time.
• Students show lack of motivation when learning
Science.
• The above situation is dependent of:
- Classic teaching approach;
- Missing contextualization of scientific concepts.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Introduction

A study performed in 2006 [1] suggests that
experimental work and new technologies are
valuable resources to increase motivation of students
in science learning.
• The e-lab platform has the above valences.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Objectives

Allow teachers' and students' access to a laboratory
where is possible to collect data in real time.
• Perform experiments that need expensive material
and without concerns with safety precautions.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Objectives

e-lab is a platform for science teaching that aims to
develop scientific knowledge and motivation on
students.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Objectives
Physics and Chemistry in Portugal are frequently
rejected by students because of the referred difficulty
of their curricula [2], however, are important subjects
to the construction of students´ scientific literacy
knowledge and to theiracademic path in our
technological society.

The essential objective of this study is to propose
ways to invert the earlier aspects using technologies
and experimental work.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Physics learning (example)
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 Theory
 Observation
 Measure
equipment
 ....
 Hands-on
 Sensors + data-loggers
 Simulators
 ....
 Real experiences in
virtual environment
 e-learning
 Data share
 Remote
participation
 ...

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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Description

Actual studies confirm the importance of new
technologies and experimental work in scientific
subjects using the CTS metodology (like e-lab).

Problem-based learning with experimental work and
new technologies places students in contextual
learning situations, creating an education of meaning
rather than an education of fact collecting.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Description

Actually: e-lab is in a preliminary study.

Next step: production of pedagogical materials using
new technologies as virtual learning environments, e-
learning projects and experiences, computer software
education, videos for learning, digital libraries or
repositories, and e-portfolios in order to increase
students motivation and interest in science, relating
the scientific knowledge with everyday life since
primary school.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Description

Teachers continuous training is always important and
necessary, but in e-lab platform case aims to:
- help teachers with e-lab interface;
- help teachers on planning and preparing experimental
work;
- motivate teachers and students.
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Description

At this time the e-lab platform has twinte active
experiments and six of them are being explored by
teachers in a e-lab workshop:
- determination of gravity value (on Earth);
- pressure change with volume (Boyle-Mariotte law);
- pressure change with depth (hidrostatic law);
- determination of speed of sound;
- launching data (statistics);
- light refraction (Snell-Descartes law).
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Workshop

At the end of this workshop teachers are expected to:
(i) know how to use the e-lab interface;
(ii) know the experiments that already exist;
(iii) have a global vision on the e-lab internal structure
and functioning;
(iv) be able to contribute to the improvement of e-lab
interface;
(v) be able to propose others experiments and
resources;
(vi) propose and know more scientific resources.21 -09-09 1 2

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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
e-lab: remotely controlled laboratory
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Anywhere
Anytime

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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
e-lab
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Available 24x7
 Remotely controlled using Internet
 Data in real time
 n experiments same time
 m simultaneous users
 Data repository
 Evaluation
 Linux, MAC, Windows
 Server Software “•REC –
Multicast Server”

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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Almost extinct interface
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 Options available:
 Save, Print & Copy, eMail
 “Waiting control”: users list, auto
play & data share
Audio
& video
Results
Graphics,
Tables
Configuration
Chat & knowledge share
Data repositoryExperimental protocol
 Requisites:
 Any
 256 MB RAM
 JRE 1.4.1
 TCP/IP Protocol Stack

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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
New interface
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
New interface
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
New interface
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
New interface
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Pedagogical material that promotes students
interest in Science
Multimedia support
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- http://www.e-escola.pt
- e-lab platform
- ?

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A exploração do e-lab no ensino
References
[1] Leal, S. C. (2006) A química orgânica no ensino
secundário: percepções e propostas. MsC. Thesis. Aveiro:
Universidade de Aveiro.
[2] Paiva, J. (2007). O fascínio de ser professor. Lisboa: Texto
Editores.
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