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Courtney Nelson
English 250
Ms. Pike
29 September 2011
Writing to Mediate: Debate on Virtual Science Classes
The world today is becoming more and more technologically related. Schools are involving more
and more way to use the internet and other online systems and software. I am sure we all know what a
science class is and in this age of technology, I am sure we all know what virtual things are.
Intro
Intro
On October 20th, 2006, a writer named Sam Dillion wrote an article for the NY Times titled, “No
Test Tubes? Debate on Virtual Science Classes.” Dillion discussed some of the things that have preceded
the start of using virtual chemistry labs. He wrote, “When the Internet was just beginning to shake up
American education, a chemistry professor photographed thousands of test tubes holding molecular
solutions and, workings with video game designers, created a simulated laboratory that allowed
students to mix chemicals in virtual beakers and watch the reactions.” Now that would be cool to see
how crazy some reactions go about when you mix two compounds together. Mixing something like
hydrochloric acid (aq HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) causes a mini explosion in sense. Ha, just ask
one of my friends who decided to do that one day in lab because he was bored.
Now, the whole debate on virtual science class has many “skeptical university professors,” AKA
the College Board. The College Board is “one of the most powerful organizations in American
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educations…” they are “questioning whether Internet-based laboratories are an acceptable substitute
for the hands-on culturing of gels and peering through microscopes that have been long essential
ingredients of American laboratory science,” (Dillion). Wouldn’t you want to be able to do things handson so you can learn by experience and mistakes? It’s like when are parents always say we should learn
from our mistakes.
Source 2 Study/experiment on effects
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Source 3 smart science education
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In an interview with Joseph Burnett, one of Iowa State University’s chemistry professors,
Burnett stated that virtual science labs “don’t give important experiences, like hands-on experience. You
don’t get the spillage and mistakes. You lose the understanding of importance of laboratory safety and
statistics, like the uncertainty in measurements,” (Burnett Personal Interview).
Source 5 email from Burnett about late night labs
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Conclusion