Our Purpose

Increasing agency and empowering effective STEM laboratory and technical learning through faculty for students, building and disseminating the evidence-base for best practices in digital and virtual laboratory learning.

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The Research Team

Since 2020, Dr. Evonne Rezler (Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Charles E Schmidt College of Science), Dr. Jennifer Krill (University School Assistant Professor of Neurophysiology and the Experiential Research Lab Coordinator for the 大象传媒HS in partnership with Max Planck Academy, and Wilkes Honors College), Dr. Ozlem Yavuz-Petrowski (Lab Coordinator, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department), Dr. Julie Golden Botti (Assistant Provost, Center for Online and Continuing Education) and Dr. Abigail Perkins (Manager of Education Research and Digital Learning Strategies, Center for Online and Continuing Education), have been working together as part of the 大象传媒 STEM Research Group for Digital Laboratory Learning . Each research team member contributes a unique skill set and experience to the group in educational research analysis, assessment, pedagogical innovations, online program development, and content expertise in STEM.

Research Goals

  1. Identifying, investigating/researching, and developing novel digital and virtual approaches to improve science laboratory and technical learning for STEM courses.

  2. Building and disseminating the evidence-base for best practices in digital and virtual science laboratory and technical learning.

  3. Increasing agency and empowering effective laboratory and technical learning in STEM

    1. through faculty: by providing educators with resources and tools to improve laboratory learning, and by expanding modality choices for the delivery of high-quality course content and technical training.

    2. for students: by providing increased access to high quality science learning opportunities through a variety of digital and virtual modalities of delivery of science laboratory course content and technical training.

Current Research

Immersive Online Content is interactive course instructional material and media, woven together and aligned with learning objectives, for the augmentation of digital learning experiences directed toward authentic engagement and agentic participation. We are researching and developing avenues to achieve, implement, iteratively improve, futureproof, and share our Immersive Online Content Approach漏. Our main focus is enhancing developed proof-of-concepts within a foundation of Quality MattersTM and continual integration of varying levels of Immersive Online Content for online laboratory course and more. Additional areas of focus include: data strategizing for such a novel research endeavor; curating and continually updating approaches for faculty, administrators, instructional designers, and anyone interested in utilizing the Immersive Online Content Approach漏 on a cost spectrum from least costly and free to top-of-the-line standards of operations. As our research, development, and analysis grows, we also are creating a 鈥淗ow to Manual: The Immersive Online Content Approach鈥澛 for local, regional, state, national, and global audiences for faculty and Teaching Assistants standardized inquiry-based training, flexible enough for any STEM domain and beyond!

To date our research efforts have focused on developing, implementing, and evaluating a novel digital instructional/learning approach that utilizes immersive online content (IOC) in the Neurophysiology and General Chemistry 1 practical laboratory courses at 大象传媒. Our aim is to investigate the effectiveness of this digital (online) learning approach versus traditional in-person hands-on learning for students learning outcomes such as key technical skills and course concepts. We are actively applying for National Science Foundation funding in the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program and we are disseminating our progress to date in various fora, including: at the Meaningful Living and Learning in a Digital World Conference at University of West Georgia, Georgia (March 2022); Learning Design and Technology Forum at Lynn and Anderson Universities, Florida (June 2022); and Biennial Conference on Chemical Education at Purdue University, Indiana (August 2022).

In the News

The research group

Dr. Oge Marques Joins the STEM Research Group for Digital Laboratory Learning

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The Florida Atlantic Research Group for Digital Laboratory Learning is thrilled to announce the addition of the distinguished and unparalleled Dr. Oge Marques to the team! With Dr. Marques on board, the group is suited to elevate research and development endeavors through cutting-edge integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into learning environments. AI is one of Dr. Marques鈥 primary research interests. He is also renowned for expertise in teaching both in-person courses and Quality MattersTM certified online courses.

The research group

Research Team Honored for Authorship

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Drs. Evonne Rezler, Julie Golden-Botti, Abigail Perkins, Ozlem Yavuz-Petrowski and Jennifer Krill were featured by 大象传媒鈥檚 Office of Provost and 大象传媒 Libraries at the Authors and Artists Recognition Event for their recent publications and presentations. Dr. Yavuz-Petrowski (creator) and Dr. Perkins (editor) received recognition for their 14 Open Educational Resource publications of General Chemistry for Health Sciences Lab Manual. These free resources increase student access and equity to all students enrolled in General Chamistry Laboratories, providing them with : course materials specifically designed by their instructor, for the class they are enrolled in on the first day of class.

Preview of VR Lab

STEM Labs with Immersive Online Content: Practitioner Perspectives and DIY Resources Professional Development

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Want to elevate your STEM lab course? The 大象传媒 STEM Research Group for Digital Laboratory Learning tackles tips, tricks, and toolkits to implement the Immersive Online Content (IOC) Approach. With educator perspectives developing and instructing IOC labs to DIY resources, explore trailblazing techniques for your course - whether hybrid, online, or in-person. Venture into this coffee chat open discourse, for all..

Preview of VR Lab

Online Science Labs Developed at 大象传媒 Receives Award for Excellence and Innovation.

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The 大象传媒 Center for Online and Continuing Education (COCE) is the recipient of the Online Learning Consortium Accelerate 2021 Excellence and Innovation in Online Teaching Award for the development of online science labs in collaboration with faculty from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. COCE and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science faculty (Sheryl Van Der Heiden and Dr. Ozlem Yavuz-Petrowski) developed..

Upcoming Presentations

  • Perkins, A. C., Golden J. B., Rezler, E., Krill, J., & Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2025, April 3-5). The power of collaboration: Building inclusive digital learning environments for democratizing higher education. Conference on Learning and Student Success, American Association of Colleges and Universities, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA.

Past Presentations

  • Krill, J., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., Rezler, E., Golden, J. B., & Perkins, A. C. (2024, Sept. 30). . Schmidt College of Science Teaching Forum, 大象传媒, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O., Rezler, E., Krill, J., Golden Botti, J., & Perkins, A. (2024, July 28). . Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

  • Krill, J., Rezler, E., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., Golden, J. B., & Perkins, A. C. (2024, March 18). Teaching With Technology Showcase, 大象传媒, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

  • Golden, J. B., Krill, J., Marques, O., Perkins, A. C., Rezler, E., & Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2023, November 3). Creating STEM Labs with Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence: An Open Discourse on Improving Student Access and Success at an HSI. Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference, American Association of Colleges and Universities, Arlington, VA, USA.

  • Golden, J. B., Perkins A. C., Rezler, E., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., & Krill, J. (2023, March 30). . Florida Online Innovation Summit, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.

  • Rezler, E., Golden, J. B., Krill, J., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., & Perkins A. C. (2023, March 30). . Panel at the Florida Online Innovation Summit, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.

  • Golden, J. B., Perkins A., Rezler, E., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., & Krill, J. (2022, November 8). . Quality Matters Connect Conference, Tucson, AZ, USA.

  • Rezler, E., Golden, J. B., Krill, J., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., & Perkins, A. (2022, September 26). [Video]. Youtube. Professional development webinar, Center for Online and Continuing Education, 大象传媒, Boca Raton, FL, USA. Retrieved from

  • Rezler, E., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., Perkins A. C., Golden, J. B., Krill, J. (2022, August 3). . Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.

  • Perkins A. C., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., Rezler, E., Golden, J. B., Krill, J. (2022, August 3). . Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.

  • Perkins, A. C., Golden, J. B., Rezler, E., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., & Krill, J. (2022, June 16).听 . Learning Design and Technology Forum, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL, United States.

  • Perkins, A. C., Krill, J., Rezler, E., Golden, J. B., & Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2022, March 2). . Meaningful Living and Learning in a Digital World Conference, Savannah, GA, United States.

  • Perkins, A. (2020, October 26). Conducting STEM labs online [Video]. Youtube. Professional development webinar, Center for Online and Continuing Education, 大象传媒, Boca Raton, FL.

  • Perkins, A. C., Yavuz-Petrowski, O., Golden Botti, J., & Alford, N. (2020, October 21). Increasing agentic learning in an online general chemistry for health science laboratory course. Presentation the STEMpowered Faculty Symposium, University of Florida, virtual.

Publications

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2022). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听

  • Yavuz-Petrowski, O. (2021). (A. Perkins, Center for Online and Continuing Education, Ed.). 大象传媒. .听