Project Abstract The Math and Science Division of Middlesex Community College has been using laptops and wireless technology to enhance student classroom and laboratory experiences. Laptops are used across the math and science disciplines to gather experimental data using sensors, complete in-class webquests and review sessions, write lab reports and perform statistical analyses.

Faculty Comments "Outcomes of using the laptops in the classroom included: an increased level of engagement by the students during class time; an increase in students' ability to make connections between concepts and their applications; an increase in the students' ability to discern quality Internet content." Christine Witkowski Environmental Studies and Explorations in Science "I think the HP laptops help the students to better understand data analysis in the physics labs. For example using the Pasco interface and motion sensor along with the Datastudio software, the students can accurately measure the position of an object as a function of time. Using the computer they can plot position vs. time, and then try different equations (linear, quadratic, exponential, etc.) to fit the data. This allows them to see, for example, that the position is proportional to the time squared for motion with constant acceleration. So the equipment really helps them make the connection between the equations and what is happening physically."John Smith Physics for Engineering and Science I and II "The students were able to navigate through the interactive material. Some had never had this experience, especially with wireless. They liked the fact that, if they were unable to get the correct answer on the cell biology quiz, a prompt would give them an explanation immediately. This was yet another tool to increase student learning. Outcome : greater understanding of the cell, its structure and function." Elaine Vogel-General Biology I "I think it helps the students see that the calculations & charts within any statistics problem are absolutely "do-able. Using the Data Analysis tools within Excel helps them understand how readily available these tools are and how useful it is to know something about statistics. They get better quality charts - this is a big help for students who cannot draw a straight line without a ruler. It enables them to focus more time on what the graph is telling them rather than focusing on the mechanics of producing a readable graph." Mary Mogan-Vallon-Intermediate Algebra and Statistics

Student Comments "Being able to go to websites to see a process like mitosis "in action" rather than just on a slide was very helpful" "Lessons become more descriptive when used with lectures" "Helped me understand the topic more because I was able to see it happening" "The animations were more helpful than just a drawing" "Very helpful because we could access information online that wasn't in the text as well as slide shows and visuals" "Having extra websites to go to helped us learn more about subjects we were interested in" "Helpful to use because you could go at your own pace or look things up you didn't know" "Using Datastudio to graph our lab results helped me to see relationships between variables that I would not otherwise see. I learned a lot from the kinetic lab where we graphed motion over time vs. acceleration. Using a computer to track and manipulate many data readings sure saves time over doing it by hand." "It was nice to be able to physically see the histograms and scatterplots. Learning how to use Excel made the statistics projects easier"

Key Findings Student learning has been enhanced or transformed because students have had the opportunity to participate in problem-based, interactive learning experiences and/or to conduct computer-aided experiments that include investigative studies, data gathering, critical thinking and problem-solving analysis. Emphasis from time spent in collecting data to time spent in interpreting and drawing conclusions; actually designing and conducting experiments rather than only reading or hearing about results contributed to a clearer understanding of scientific principles and their applications. Students were able to engage in a wide variety of web-based activities both individually and in small groups. One instructor noted a definite increase in learning and understanding on the part of those students who used websites to study microscopic pond life as compared to those in a similar class who did not. Faculty have indicated that students were more engaged and excited about the work when they were able to manipulate data, use software programs or do web-based research. Overall, 95% of the students surveyed enjoyed using the laptops and 91.5% felt laptops enhanced their learning experience.

Collecting Data on Invasive Species

Measuring Forces in Physics

Web-based Research in Integrated Science

Laptop Faculty Development Workshop

Quick Facts Since 2004: 1800 students have had an opportunity to use the laptops 23 different science and math faculty participated 19 different courses have been impacted

Courses and Activities Fundamentals of Math-access textbook website Intermediate Algebra-graph and interpret ball ounce data Statistics-analysis of web-based data Methods of Applied Statistics-data collection and analysis, web research, lab reports Explorations in Science-physics simulations, DNA fingerprinting activity, web-based research on global warming and fuel economy, web-based pond life activity Environmental Studies-web-based activities on atomic structure and photosynthesis, research on environmental issues Introduction to Biology-web-based activities on nutrition and mitosis, lessons on preparing PowerPoint presentations General Biology I and II- web-based modules on the scientific method, insulin, DNA, protein synthesis, osmosis, inorganic chemistry, karyotyping, chromatography, and mitosis; data gathering with pH and pressure probes, webquests on stem cells, cell organelles, the animal kingdom and Darwin's finches Botany-database research and data gathering on invasive species, use of Excel to analyze data on invasives and duckweed populations Anatomy and Physiology-using probes to gather heart rate data, in-class use of text CD Nutrition-in-class use of diet analysis software Forensics-ballistics and autopsy simulations, preparation of capstone projects Introduction to Chemistry- web based modules on water, atomic structure, bonding, and fluorimetry, chemistry tutorials, using probes to gather data on pH, Boyle's Law and radioactivity College Chemistry I and II-chemistry tutorials, simulations for reaction rates, organic structures and polymerization, using probes to gather Boyle's Law data and specific heat data, research on hazardous chemicals General Chemistry for Engineering and Science-using probes to gather Boyle's Law data Integrated Science I and II-web-based modules on solutions, electronegativity, protein synthesis, and chromatography, using probes to collect data on Newton's Laws and specific heat, research with NOAA databases, creation of PowerPoint presentations, access labs online, webquests on cell structure, mitosis, Darwin, birds and provide students with review CD's Introduction to Meteorology-weather mapping using NOAA databases Physics for Engineering Science I and II-using probes to gather data on Newton's Laws, harmonic motion, the photoelectric effect, circuits, magnetic force and microwave optics, physics simulation software, graphing data and writing lab reports, preparing PowerPoint presentations

2006-2007 Faculty Jessie W. Klein (PI) [email protected] Physics-John Smith Biology-Louise Nolan, Elaine Vogel, Jessie Klein Chemistry-Chanchala Srivastava, Rhoda Morris, Beth Kelley, Sarah Iacobucci Intermediate Algebra and Statistics-Mary Mogan-Vallon Explorations in Science-Donna Barinelli