5.3 Preparing for sustained use of virtual labs and OER
Watch
In this final lesson video of the course, Dr Pascasie Nyirahabimana asks you to consider not only how you might integrate virtual labs or simulations in your STEAM lessons today, but also how you might prepare for their sustained use. She begins by reviewing why we choose to enhance our teaching through virtual labs and simulations, from the pedagogical and technological to assessment. Then she introduces a sustainable action plan and six actions you can take to ensure the sustainable use of these new technologies.
Read
Read the article below to determine if virtual labs and remote laboratories are effective teaching resources.
Are Virtual Laboratories and Remote Laboratories Enhancing the Quality of Sustainability Education?
https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13111110
Then read this study to explore the factors influencing virtual lab adoption in marginalized rural schools.
Factors influencing virtual lab adoption in marginalized rural schools: insights from South Africa
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00369-2
Finally, this article will give you insight on increasing sustainability in open learning.
Increasing Sustainability in Open Learning: Prospects of a Distributed Learning Ecosystem for Open Educational Resources
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.866917
Review
Review additional evidence that communities of practice are associated with improved teaching outcomes in STEAM. If you're working in K-12 education, explore the first resource below; for post-secondary, focus on reading the second resource.
Creating Communities of Practice
https://www.communityofpractice.ca
Evidence that communities of practice are associated with active learning in large STEM lectures
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40594-018-0154-z
Explore
Learn more about how sustainability action plans for departments, including updating resources or OER, mentoring and coaching, and linked communities of practice, can accelerate STEAM education reform. You can also explore the insights for sustaning teacher development.
Accelerating STEM education reform: linked communities of practice promote creation of open educational resources and sustainable professional development
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00405-y
The Impact of Communities of Practice on Professional Development Among Chinese Teachers: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study
https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251359824
Respond
You've reached the end of the lessons for Integrating Virtual Labs in STEAM Teaching. In this final discussion for Module 5, you'll be asked to look ahead to future and make a commitment to a sustainable action plan: one specific action that you'll take to improve your practice and advance your professional teaching career. It might be based on the actions listed by Dr Nyirahabimana above, or it might be anything you've seen in the course and can now commit to.
Quiz
When you have completed your readings and other activities for the week, including participating in the forums, you can move on to the quiz for Week 5.
To earn a Certificate of Participation, you will need to complete all five quizzes with a score of 70% for each. You can take each quiz as many times as you need to. If you don't pass the quiz on your first try, go back to the materials and then try again.
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IVLST Lesson Plan: Final assignmentThe IVLST Lesson Plan will be your final assignment for the course and is required for earning a Certificate of Completion. It was introduced at the beginning of Module 4 - if you haven't started it yet, click the button below to review the instructions and begin your plan now. It will be due by the end of the final day of the course. |
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Claim your certificateAfter you've completed your final quiz and IVLST Lesson Plan, click below to check the requirements for your certificate, fill in the (required) End-of-course survey, and claim your certificate. |