Evaluating Students' Learning and Attitudes in a Virtual Chemistry Laboratory

该项目正在调查学生在第二人生的3D沉浸式虚拟世界中进行模拟化学实验室实验的好处。佛罗里达理工学院的研究人员正在创造环境和虚拟实验室，这是对现实世界模拟的真实、完全交互的模拟。该项目邀请德克萨斯农工大学普通化学第一实验室的多个部分的学生在第二人生完成几周的实验活动，以补充他们传统的实验课程经验。其他部分的学生将只进行传统的实验室体验。无论是在传统实验室还是在虚拟环境中，这两个部分都完成了相同或几乎相同的体验。研究人员正在回答两个研究问题：(I)传统或虚拟实验室环境如何影响学生实现实验室实验的学习目标的能力，包括知识和动觉技能？(Ii)实验室环境如何影响学生对在实验室学习化学和进行实验室工作的态度？该项目旨在了解学生对以传统方式进行的一般化学实验活动的态度和内容知识，以及与在也包含社会互动的在线虚拟世界中进行的活动相比。通过使用在线实践，该项目向所有学生提供，无论他们参与的是什么学习队列，该项目正在衡量学生在动觉(动手)实验室技能方面的收获。先前的研究表明，虚拟实验室体验会导致学生对化学更有利的看法，并导致更好的学业表现。对这一结果的验证可以对入门化学实验室的教学方式产生革命性的影响。在预算困难和人口不断增加的情况下，其他高等教育机构可能有兴趣将虚拟实验室方法应用到自己的课程中。该项目的成果有助于改进在线和远程教育方法的成果。虚拟实验室以其综合的社会方面，为更多的学生和代表不足的群体的学生提供了获得高质量实验室教育的机会。

The project is investigating the benefits of students performing simulated chemistry laboratory experiments in the 3D immersive virtual world of Second Life. Researchers at Florida Institute of Technology are creating the environment and the virtual laboratories which are realistic, fully interactive simulations of their real world analogues. The project is engaging multiple sections of students enrolled in General Chemistry 1 Laboratory at Texas A&M University to complete several weeks of lab activities in Second Life to complement the remainder of their lab course experiences which are traditional. Other sections of students will conduct only traditional laboratory experiences. The two sections are completing identical or nearly identical experiences whether in the traditional lab or the virtual environment. The investigators are answering two research questions: (i) How does the traditional or virtual laboratory environment affect students' ability to achieve the learning goals of the laboratory experiment, including knowledge and kinesthetic skills? (ii) How does the laboratory environment affect students' attitudes towards learning chemistry in the laboratory and performing laboratory work?This project is providing understanding of students' attitudes and content knowledge of general chemistry laboratory activities performed in a traditional manner as compared to that performed in an online virtual world that also embraces social interactions. By the use of an on-line practicum, offered to all students regardless of the learning cohort in which they participated, the project is measuring students' gains in kinesthetic ("hands-on") laboratory skills.Prior research suggests that virtual laboratory experiences lead to more favorable opinions of chemistry by students, and to better academic performance. Verification of this outcome can have a transformative effect on the way introductory chemistry laboratories are taught. With challenged budgets and expanding populations, other institutions of higher education may be interested in adapting the Virtual Laboratory approach into their own curriculum. Results from this project could help improve the outcomes of on-line and distance education approaches. The virtual laboratory with its integrated social aspects, is providing more students, and students of underrepresented groups, with access to high quality laboratory education.