How this course works

Who should take this course?

This OER-based course is open to all who wish to participate and can be accessed from anywhere around the world. IVLST is designed for teachers, student teachers, teacher educators, instructional designers, and anyone else supporting educators as they plan and develop an enriching STEAM lesson supported by technology.

By subscribing to this course, you'll gain invaluable insights into the latest advancements in educational technology, empowering you to create immersive and interactive learning experiences for your students in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, or other disciplines. Whether you’re aiming to incorporate virtual laboratories, utilize data visualization tools, or harness the power of simulations, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate technology into your STEAM teaching.

About the weekly modules

IVLST has 5 modules, and we recommend spending about a week on each module. Some modules are open now, with the remaining modules opening over the next few weeks and all modules staying open through February.

	In Module 1, we'll lay the groundwork with an introduction to inquiry-based and online teaching and learning. You'll explore key concepts, delve into inquiry-based learning methods, and discuss the roles participants play in this dynamic form of learning. You'll consider the recent expansion from STEM to STEAM, recognizing the important roles of creativity and arts-related representation and expression in critical STEM thinking. Finally, you'll take your first look at virtual labs and simulations, browsing through the Demonstration Gallery to see these innovative resources in action.
Moving into Module 2, you'll focus on leveraging virtual labs, simulations, and open educational resources (OER) available through PhET and other platforms for enhanced learning experiences. You'll examine how virtual labs and simulations will enable your students to visualise and explore STEAM concepts and promote active learning. Again, we'll showcase practical applications in teaching, emphasizing the value of OER, freely available through Creative Commons licensing.
	Module 3 will ask you to delve deeper into virtual labs and simulations and how they can be integrated into blended learning. You'll be introduced to the concept and principles of blended learning and its application in STEAM education, with guidelines for seamlessly integrating virtual labs and simulations into blended learning environments.
In Module 4, you'll shift your focus to strategies for equitable and inclusive learning to avoid gender-based bias in STEAM teaching. You'll consider the challenges around ensuring STEAM learning is accessible, welcoming, and relevant to women and girls, as well as specific issues related to the learning of men and boys in STEAM. You'll then explore these issues in relation to assessment of virtual lab and simulation-enhanced activities.
	Finally, in Module 5, your goal will be to develop lesson plans utilizing virtual labs and simulations in STEAM teaching and learning. You'll evaluate your plans for their effectiveness and long-term sustainability in the light of best practices, and you'll complete your final activity. This reflective process will serve as a springboard for continued growth and innovation in STEAM with virtual labs and simulations.

By the end of the course, you'll not only have a newfound appreciation for the power of simulations and OER-based virtual labs in STEAM education but also possess the skills to leverage these resources effectively in your academic and professional pursuits!

About the quizzes

Each module ends with a quiz to test your learning and understanding of the main concepts of the week. Each quiz has 10 multiple-choice or true-false questions; to qualify for a Certificate of Participation, you will need to score at least 70% on each quiz.

You can take each quiz as many times as you need to; your highest score will be the one that is used for your certificate. If you don't pass the quiz on your first try, go back to the materials and then try again.

(Please don't discuss the answers to the quizzes in the forums, even if you disagree with your score. If your answer is marked wrong, ask yourself why another answer may be better than the one you selected.)

About the final activity

The final activity in this course is to design your own IVLST Lesson Plan. To qualify for a Certificate of Completion, you'll need to complete all the quizzes, participate in the forums, and complete the final activity.

The activity is a written assignment asking you to design your own approach to implementing virtual labs and simulations into your own teaching setting, course, or programme. There will be a template for you to follow. Your responses should be short but well thought through.

The detailed instructions for the final activity will be given to you in Module 4, with the activity being submitted when you complete Module 5.

About the certificates

If you complete the required activities for this course, you can earn a Certificate of Participation or a Certificate of Completion:

• The Certificate of Participation requires completing all 5 quizzes with a score of at least 70% on each and contributing your ideas through at least 3 posts to the discussion forums. Try to earn at least this certificate; you can take the quizzes as many times as you need to.
• The Certificate of Completion requires completing all 5 quizzes with a score of at least 70%, making at least 3 posts, and completing an IVLST Lesson Plan for your final activity. If you are applying your certificate to a professional development program, you will likely need to achieve this certificate.

The required discussion posts do not have to be long, but they should add to the discussion in some way. Most of the discussion forums ask you to consider ideas that will be useful when writing out your final activity. For more on the discussion forums, go to the next page.