The document discusses e-lab, an online platform for science experiments. It conducted a preliminary study with 15 teachers to test e-lab. The study found that e-lab is a valuable tool for teaching as it allows students to conduct experiments remotely and access equipment they may not have. However, some challenges were identified, such as ensuring students have computers and internet access to use e-lab. Overall, the study concluded that e-lab has the potential to motivate students in science by making experiments more accessible.

1. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
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 Instituto de Tecnológico Nuclear, ITN, Sacavém, Portugal
4 Departamento de Física, IST, Lisboa, Portugal
sergioleal20@gmail.com
25-30 th July 2010, Crete - Greece

2. • 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.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Introduction

3.  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.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Introduction

4.  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.
• Help in the demystification of the failure causes of
the teaching and learning of science, particularly
Physics and Chemistry.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Objectives

5.  e-lab is a platform for science teaching that aims to
develop scientific knowledge and motivation on
students.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Objectives

6.  Specific objectives are intended to:
(i) allow students of various levels of education to
be able to consolidate their expertise in science and
hence develop their scientific skills;
(ii) demonstrate that e-lab is a relevant resource for
the teaching and learning of Physics and Chemistry;
(iii) produce specific materials and scientific contents
for students and teachers, as support of the
platform;
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Objectives

7.  Specific objectives are intended to:
(iv) extend the existing range of experience,
particularly in Chemistry;
(v) reproduce e-lab experiments in several primary
and secondary schools to decrease the time waiting
to perform an experiment;
(vi) contribute to the training of teachers;
(vii) make e-lab an internationally recognized tool
for teaching.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Objectives

8.  Continuous training 26/09/2009 – 21/11/2009
 15 teachers of primary and secondary school of
Portugal in Lisbon region
 9 sessions of 4 hours (evaluation in the last session)
 Developed in Moodle
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Description – preliminary study

9.  Introduction to e-lab platform
 Tools for data analysis
 Exploration of the e-lab in physic and chemistry
teaching
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Description – preliminary study

10.  Experiments explored by teachers:
- determination of gravity value (on Earth);
- pressure change with volume (Boyle-Mariotte law);
- pressure change with depth (hidrostatic law);
- launching data (statistics).
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Description – preliminary study

11.  At the end 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.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Description – preliminary study

12. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Almost extint interface

13. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
New interface

14. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

15. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

16. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

17. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

18.  Benefits arising from the use of e-lab by students:
(i) A laboratory practical activity that allows self-
-discovery as well as consolidation of knowledge;
(ii) A lab always ready to use that allows the
repetition of experiments, enabling more reliable
results;
(iii) The realization of experiences outside the
classroom at anytime;
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

19.  Benefits arising from the use of e-lab by students:
(iv) The opportunity to carry out experiments
without the existence of specific equipment in school
or that couldn't perform because economic reasons;
(v) The opportunity to use spreadsheets like
Microsoft Excel.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

20.  Difficulties when using the e-lab platform with
students:
(i) The lack of school resources including computers
with Internet connection, and the need to have Java
and QuickTime installed in the computers to
accomplish the experiments (this can be solved
easily);
(ii) Treatment of experimental results obtained
through the remote control of experiments.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Results – preliminary study

21.  Enthusiastic inquiry results
 The use of experimental work and/or technologies in
classroom seems essential to motivate students to
scientific areas [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]
• We believe that e-lab is a proper tool for
experiments data collection using a simple,
functional, user-friendly platform with all the
necessary resources for students and teachers
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Conclusion

22.  Continuous training for constant updating of
knowledge for teachers practices is needed
 The e-lab is an intuitive platform that has the
resources to explore the various experiences in
classrooms at different educational levels; the
materials already prepared for the four experiments
resulted in a preliminary study and were tested in
classroom earlier
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Conclusion

23. e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Conclusion

24. • Perform a larger study
• Produce more pedagogical materials to e-lab
• Introduce new experiments, mostly Chemistry
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Next steps

25. • Use e-lab platform in school/university
• Suggest experiments to the e-lab
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Challenge and Suggestions

26. • http://www.e-escola.pt/elab.asp
• http://moodle.crie.min-edu.pt (e-lab subject)
• http://elab.ist.utl.pt/rec/index_uk.html
(english version of almost extint e-lab platform)
• http://elab.ist.utl.pt/rec/index1.html
(portuguese version of almost extint e-lab platform)
• http://elab1.ist.utl.pt/rec.am/Login.faces
(portuguese version of new e-lab platform)
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
Multimedia support

27. [1] Leal, S. C. A química orgânica no ensino
secundário: percepções e propostas. MsC. Thesis.
Aveiro: Universidade de Aveiro, 2006.
[2] Paiva, J. O fascínio de ser professor. Lisboa: Texto
Editores, 2007.
[3] Leal, S. C. & Leal, J. P. Pedagogical Material that
Promotes Students Interest in Science. 6th
International Conference on Hands-on Science
Proceedings, ISBN 978-989-95095-5-9. Costa MF,
Darrío BV, Patairiya MK (Eds.); 2009, 27-31 October;
Science City, Ahmedabad – India. 2009. pp. 161-
164.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
References

28. [4] Leal, S. C. & Leal, J. P. Why are Students not attracted
by Physics and Chemistry? EduLearn09 Proceedings,
ISBN 978-84-612-9802-0. L. Gómez Chova, D. Martí
Belenguer, I. Candel Torres (Eds.); 2009, 6-8 July,
International Association of Technology, Education and
Development IATED, Valencia. 2009. pp. 4019-4022.
[5] Leal, S. C., Fernandes, H. & Leal, J. P. Laboratório
virtual e-lab: uma plataforma de ensino das ciências.
XIII Encontro Nacional de Educação em Ciências
Proceedings, ISBN 978-989-95831-2-2. Escola Superior
de Educação, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
(Eds.); 2009, 24-26 September, Escola Superior de
Educação, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco,
Castelo Branco. 2009. pp. 1557-1560.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
References

29. [6] Leal, S. C., Leal, J. P. & Fernandes, H. e-lab platform:
promoting students interest in science. INTED2010
Proceedings, ISBN 978-84-613-5538-9. L. Gómez Chova,
D. Martí Belenguer, I. Candel Torres (Eds.); 2010, 8-10
March, International Association of Technology,
Education and Development IATED, Valencia. 2010. pp.
2810-2819.
e-lab: a valuable tool for teaching
References