NANSLO
The interface between
students and
scientific discovery
Susan Mircovich
Kenai Peninsula College
University of Alaska Anchorage
scmircovich@kpc.alaska.edu
Susan Mircovich
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
(Service = Instructional Designer)
Kenai Peninsula College UAA
Survey of Chemistry
Intro to Organic and Biochemistry
General Chemistry I and II
Objectives
• After completing this session we will
be able to help students prepare for a
fun and educational NANSLO lab
experience
3
Why Distance?
Most UAA students are non-traditional:
• 61.4% part-time
• > than 50% over the age of 24
UAA Fact Book http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/ir/publications/factbook/index.cfm
Why Distance?
Live far
from
campus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dangoodwin/3919016898/sizes/m/in/photostream/
5
(Why) University Students Don’t
Read…
6
Recruiting Students = 20
7
8
Setting up for success
Prepare
• Read
• Pre Conference
• Pre Quiz
LAB = Learning
Assess
• Debrief Conference
• Post Quiz
9
Getting past the Interface
Sign
up
Spectr
ometer
Citrix
LEARNING
Log
In
Control
VI
Call
10
Beer’s Law Experiment
• NANSLO Beer-Lambert Law Lab Activity
• NANSLO link to demos:
– Dr. Branon shows you the spectrometer
controls (7 minutes):
http://denverlabinfo.nanslo.org/video/absorba
nce_spectroscopy.html
11
Beer’s Law Experiment
• NANSLO Beer-Lambert Law Lab Activity
• NANSLO link to demos:
– Dr. Branon shows you the spectrometer
control (7 minutes):
THESE WERE ASSIGNED! All of my
interventions were in ADDITION to these
materials.
12
NANSLO Tutorials
13
Things I adapted/created
14
Robotics Lab Button
15
Sign up
16
Sign up - screencast
http://screencast.com/t/KYTkst4Fp2s
Made quickly with Jing (free) < 2.5 min
Get Jing at:
http://www.techsmith.com/download/jing/
17
Sign up
18
Citrix
2. Install the Citrix Software (you will also get these
instructions in your email after you sign up at the scheduler):
Install Citrix Receiver software on your computer so that you can
access the RWSL Control Panel. To install this software, open
any browser (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) and go
to http://receiver.citrix.com
Click the download button and install the Citrix Receiver
program. Do not open the Citrix Receiver program after
installing it.
Your computer is now ready to access the RWSL Control
Panel. [See “Installing the Citrix Receiver Program”
at http://www.wiche.edu/nanslo/lab-tutorials for more detailed
information on installing the Citrix software.]
19
Citrix
2. Install the Citrix Software (you will also get these
instructions in your email after you sign up at the scheduler):
Install Citrix Receiver software on your computer so that you can
access the RWSL Control Panel. To install this software, open
any browser (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) and go
to http://receiver.citrix.com
Click the download button and install the Citrix Receiver
program. Do not open the Citrix Receiver program after
installing it.
Your computer is now ready to access the RWSL Control
Panel. [See “Installing the Citrix Receiver Program”
at http://www.wiche.edu/nanslo/lab-tutorials for more detailed
information on installing the Citrix software.]
20
Citrix
2. Install the Citrix Software (you will also get these
instructions in your email after you sign up at the scheduler):
Install Citrix Receiver software on your computer so that you can
access the RWSL Control Panel. To install this software, open
any browser (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) and go
to http://receiver.citrix.com
Click the download button and install the Citrix Receiver
program. Do not open the Citrix Receiver program after
installing it.
Your computer is now ready to access the RWSL Control
Panel. [See “Installing the Citrix Receiver Program”
at http://www.wiche.edu/nanslo/lab-tutorials for more detailed
information on installing the Citrix software.]
21
Log In
You have signed up to take Beer's Law on
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 9:00 AM
MST. At that time, you will be able to log in
to the remote lab using the following link and
credentials:
https://denvernode.nanslo.org/node/login?la
bsessionid=158&userid=584
22
Log In
23
Log In
24
Log In
25
Call
Accessing your lab at the date/time designated:
1…
2…
3…
4…
5. You will be using a voice conferencing line to
communicate with other students on your team. As
soon as you have access to the RWSL Control
Panel, call the toll free number shown on the panel
and use the access code to connect to the
conference line.
26
Call
• Dan’s tutorial highlights the call in
information
• Susan tells them in the pre-lab conference
Call in!
27
Call
• Dan’s tutorial highlights the call in
information
• Susan tells them in the pre-lab conference
Call in!
28
Call
• I did not understand how we were going to
communicate once the lab started because
nothing explained that at all and then once I
logged onto the lab I still didn't get that I had to
call the number on the screen to communicate
with everyone in the group
29
Control VI
• PreLab Quiz:
Request Control of VI
30
Control VI
• PreLab Quiz:
Request Control of VI
31
Spectrometer Controls
32
Spectrometer Controls
• Dan’s video walkthrough PLUS
• Interactive pre lab conference
33
Spectrometer Controls
“hot spot” questions
Click on the spot in the image
below where you will go to check
the temperature of the system and
select your samples:
Click on the button that allows the
instrument to establish a baseline with the
light off, and subtract out "noise" from your
spectrum:
After we turn the light on, and we select
our Reference Sample, some light from our
light source will be absorbed by the
cuvette and the distilled water (solvent in
this case). Before analyzing our samples,
what should you click to subtract that
part of the spectrum from our desired
sample spectrum?
To zoom in and zoom out on the sample
spectrum I will draw a box with my mouse
after clicking on this button:
34
Spectrometer “hot spot” pre-lab
questions
Click on the spot in the image
below where you will go to check
the temperature of the system and
select your samples:
Click on the button that allows the
instrument to establish a baseline with the
light off, and subtract out "noise" from your
spectrum:
After we turn the light on, and we select
our Reference Sample, some light from our
light source will be absorbed by the
cuvette and the distilled water (solvent in
this case). Before analyzing our samples,
what should you click to subtract that
part of the spectrum from our desired
sample spectrum?
To zoom in and zoom out on the sample
spectrum I will draw a box with my mouse
after clicking on this button:
35
Spectrometer Controls
• This goes pretty well!
• Lab staff is able to help with this once
students get in
36
PreLab Conference
• Mandatory
• Synchronous
• Interactive
– Learning objectives for the lab
– Relevance
– Theory
– Using instrumentation
– Data analysis
37
PreLab Conference
PreLab Conference
[http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Quantum_Mechanics/Atomic_Theory/Electrons_in_Atoms/Atomic_Spectra UC Davis
39
PreLab Conference
[http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Quantum_Mechanics/Atomic_Theory/Electrons_in_Atoms/Atomic_Spectra UC Davis
40
Lab Time!!
41
Lab Time!!
• From figuring out where to click….
• …to “we’re just fooling around ”
42
Post-lab conference
43
Post-lab quiz
• Assessment of Learning – students did
very well answering the post-lab questions
from the NANSLO Beer’s activity doc
• Rutgers survey – provided the link again
for those who did not take it
44
Interface Lessons Learned:
Should add prep for:
• Can’t find email to log in
• NEW What is a clipboard?
• NEW Mac right clicks
45
Interface Lessons Learned:
Probably can’t prevent:
• Clicking on the Citrix receiver
• Can’t access system forgot password
• Using the Demo link to try to access their
lab
• Not calling in on the teleconference
46
What students said:
• like it better than "regular" lab
• What a great team I had and WOW what a
great experiment. Dr. B was our Lab Tech,
he was extremely helpful and professional
• Got done with the lab this morning and it
was pretty awesome. Everyone was really
good to work with and easy to set up.
47
What students said:
•
•
•
•
Interesting
Well designed
Every single thing is explained step by step
Really there were no difficulties. I enjoyed it
very much.
• This type of unique "hands on" experience
taps into parts of the brain that even personperson labs miss, and solidifies concepts
48
What students said:
• Good lab, it was fun controlling robotics.
• I enjoyed it very much. Very amazing to
be able to sit in the comfort of my own
home and actually be able to do a lab.
49
What students said:
• I It was really interesting being in a lab in
Colorado even though I was in Alaska. I
would like to see more of these done in
further labs.
• I had so much fun! Our lab tech (Nate)
was wonderful and helpful, considering
that he was juggling two groups at once. I
hope there are future opportunities like this
for other classes to enjoy.
50
What students said:
Distance education is challenging, and how do you make
it both engaging and interactive for your students? I
think that this lab is a great example of how to do that. …
Furthermore, the lab tech (Dan I wanna say was his
name), was very patient, articulate, and professional. He
took the time to explain how to tune down the noise in
the display, as well as providing a brief and simple
explanation of the spectra as well. I think he did a great
job.
Long story short, overall I think its a great lab and a
superb addition to the course.
51
What students said:
• I honestly didn't find any part of this lab
confusing
• I enjoyed the experience very much and
would do it again
52
What students said:
• This was a wonderful opportunity! The
experience was fun and interesting, and a
bit of a challenge! (In a good way!)
• A big thank you to the Denver Lab for
allowing us to do this experiment!!
53
What students saidmost helpful:
• Students said:
– Dr. Branon’s video
– Pre-lab conf
– Data collection with step by step procedure
54
What students saidmost confusing:
#1 = getting and releasing control of the
equipment (right-click)
• Other comments on difficulties:
– Macs, right click issues
– Getting screenshots (due to clipboard
terminology I think)
– Internet connections
55
Conclusion
• After completing this session we will be
able to prepare (almost all) students for a
successful NANSLO lab experience
56
Lessons Learned
• In spite of a few small challenges,
everyone was able to complete the lab,
enjoy it, and learn
• Share ideas and questions?
57