SER/VE (STEM Exploratory Real/Virtual Environment):

connecting science education and youth, virtually

Eileen O’Connor, Ph.D. Empire State College

Eileen.oconnor@esc.edu

Highlights of thedevelopment of a

K12 learning environment

Too often science is passive & labs merely prove what is already known . . . in a very cook-book way

So, how can you engage students?

Benefits to SER/VE work

• Student engagement in 21st century skills – Technology, communications, expanded

connections with other K12 schools & teachers • Student creation / student direction

– Students can become involved in building, scheduling, governance; important future skills

• Students experience STEM careers & futures– Work as STEM professionals / meet STEM

professionals

PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR WORKING WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING

• Kids learn this way • Kids are engaged, challenge, tested, and

exercised this way (aka, gaming)• SO, why aren’t we using it in K12 teaching???

. . . because it ain’t easyBUT IT IS DO-ABLE

• From a development & fun six months with the Mall of the Universe; students learned building and basic math

A piloted started w/ K12

Students learned & practiced before going into the mall

The STEM Exploratory Real/Virtual Environment (SER/VE) eventually emerged – here is the main Science Center w/ the bulk of the meetings and

interactions

Created by a 13 yr. old student

. . . a very mobile environment

Working w/

students on their

territory

Students created projects that they presented to an audience of adult judges

. . . pre-service teacher-judges came, and wereamazed with the results

New science pod area

The SER/VE island was now expanded so that pre-service teachers could develop & display science project ideas

New Science Pods

Assignments were developed to allow science teachers to create “pods” with minimal knowledge of virtual building; pre-service teachers created projects in their pods

These teacher shared their ideas about science projects during meetings with other teachers . . .

across NYS

Backyard Biodiversity

Pods encouraged science that moved out of the classroom and into the world

Students (science teachers) designed rich science projects with associated websites that they shared within the virtual spaces during the summer of 2011

Working in a virtual setting was now tested with a larger group of K12

students

This urban test group showed real learning advances when using virtual

Deep engagement at the computer

Collaborate, share, & peer

teach

Work in person, in virtual, and in text-based social

format

Value of SER/VE – providing expanded access for K12 & for under-represented

•A working space that transcends geography & creates a sense of reality and presence

•Assembling professionals and educators

Meeting, developing,

sharing

•Represent STEM experiences – safe, practical, virtual

•Integrate with REAL and with education

Simulations & experiences

•Providing expertise and experiences beyond the classroom

•Allowing participation outside the school day too

Enhancing classroom practice

The challenge of getting support

SERVE – fully operational

MALET

Grants???

Programming Teacher – STEM

Graphics

Master’s in Learning in Emerging Technology – an incubator