{"id":6789,"date":"2016-03-01T07:00:21","date_gmt":"2016-03-01T07:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/?p=6789"},"modified":"2016-02-29T13:40:15","modified_gmt":"2016-02-29T13:40:15","slug":"labcasts-bringing-cutting-edge-science-to-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/?p=6789","title":{"rendered":"Labcasts: Bringing cutting edge science to the classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_6799\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/photo_0.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/photo_0-150x147.png\" alt=\"Dr Vic Pearson, The Open Unversity\" width=\"150\" height=\"147\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-6799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/photo_0-150x147.png 150w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/photo_0.png 206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6799\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr Vic Pearson, The Open University<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/people\/vkp23\" target=\"_blank\">Dr Vic Pearson<\/a> led the organisation of a &#8216;Labcast&#8217;, connecting Open University researchers with teachers and students from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.denbigh.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Denbigh School<\/a> in Milton Keynes. Vic worked on this project with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/people\/ss27739\" target=\"_blank\">Dr Simon Sheridan<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/people\/tdc5\" target=\"_blank\">Dr Trevor Collins<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/people\/gd3792\" target=\"_blank\">Dr Gareth Davies<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/people\/rmh47\" target=\"_blank\">Professor Richard Holliman<\/a> from the Open University; and Jenny Hallam, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/?p=6772\" target=\"_blank\">Helen Brown<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/about\/teaching-and-learning\/esteem\/engaging-opportunities\/project-team\/mark-russell-2013-2015\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Russell<\/a> from Denbigh School in Milton Keynes.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>What is a Labcast? <\/strong><br \/>\nA \u2018Labcast\u2019 is an interactive, live web broadcast that integrates video streaming and instant messaging to enable a conversation between two or more locations.<\/p>\n<p>A short video explaining the concept of a Labcast can be viewed in the short video below.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/HINfMcetNZ0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Access to \u2018cutting edge\u2019 research <\/strong><br \/>\nInitially developed for Open University (OU) undergraduate teaching, the Labcast model offers a number of advantages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<ol>1. Provides access to a working laboratory and researcher.<\/ol>\n<ol>2. Provides more opportunities for curriculum links than a \u2018lab tour\u2019 format;<\/ol>\n<ol>3. Does not require students to be taken off timetable or transport costs to be found.<\/ol>\n<ol>4. Has fewer implications for laboratories that are heavily used.<\/ol>\n<ol>5. Contextualises researchers and their science in an authentic working environment.\n<\/ol>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Labcasting the Rosetta Mission<\/strong><br \/>\nHere we describe the use of a Labcast to deliver a 1-hour physics lesson to an A-level class of 25 Denbigh School students in Milton Keynes from a laboratory at the Open University&#8217;s Walton Hall Campus. <\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6809\" style=\"width: 635px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6809\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"The &#039;Labcast&#039; activity in action, Denbigh School, Milton Keynes. Photo: Mark Russell.\" width=\"625\" height=\"350\" class=\"size-large wp-image-6809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh-624x350.jpg 624w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_denbigh.jpg 1128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6809\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The &#8216;Labcast&#8217; activity in action, Denbigh School, Milton Keynes. Photo: Mark Russell.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_6811\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Labcast_OU.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6811\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Labcast_OU-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Dr Simon Sheridan and Jenny Hallam delivering the \u2018labcast\u2019 at the Open University, facilitated by the technical team. Photo: Vic Pearson.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Labcast_OU-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Labcast_OU-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Labcast_OU.jpg 617w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6811\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr Simon Sheridan and Jenny Hallam delivering the \u2018labcast\u2019 at the Open University, facilitated by the technical team. Photo: Vic Pearson.<br \/><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Engaging students with the curriculum via \u2018cutting edge research\u2019<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Open University researcher (Dr Simon Sheridan) is a Rosetta Mission scientist who had been involved in the design and build of the OU\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/sci.esa.int\/rosetta\/31445-instruments\/?fbodylongid=896\" target=\"_blank\">Ptolemy instrument<\/a> on-board Rosetta\u2019s Philae lander.  <\/p>\n<p>Simon was actively engaged in interpreting data from the comet&#8217;s surface.  Some of this data was used in the Labcast having just been published in the world-leading academic journal <em><a href=\"http:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/44166\/\" target=\"_blank\">Science<\/a><\/em>.  <\/p>\n<p>The laboratory used for the Labcast was that used for testing the Ptolemy ground reference models, providing authenticity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Provide development activities for teacher and researcher <\/strong><br \/>\nBoth the teacher (Jenny Hallam) and researcher used this activity as a career and professional development (CPD) activity.  They collaborated on the development, design and delivery of the scheme of work for the Labcast, sharing pedagogical approaches and subject knowledge. They also gained the experience of engaging with others using a novel mix of media.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6813\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_mixing.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6813\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_mixing-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"The technical team mixing the live stream and other content. Photo: Vic Pearson.\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_mixing-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_mixing-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Labcast_mixing.jpg 562w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6813\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The technical team mixing the live stream and other content. Photo: Vic Pearson.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Technology<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Labcast was recorded by three audio-visual experts led by Dr Trevor Collins.  The team used static and roving cameras, and was broadcast as a high-definition video stream via FaceTime.  <\/p>\n<p>Third party videos (for example, from ESA and NASA) were incorporated into the live stream and a webcam relayed a view of the classroom back to the lab. Students and presenters interacted using FaceTime.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Content and structure<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Labcast incorporated passive elements, for example, presenting to camera, interview-style dialogue; and interactive elements, including a lab experiment mirrored in the school, a maths workshop, and a problem solving activity. A pre-Labcast activity was set, which meant a group activity was possible, and time for Q&#038;A was built in.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recommendations for future Labcasts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Early interaction between teacher and researcher is crucial.<\/li>\n<li>Students benefitted from preparation before the event; further follow up activities could also be effective.<\/li>\n<li>A different format, for example, several shorter Labcasts over an academic year might provide a more effective teaching tool and minimize concerns over \u2018time out\u2019 of lessons.<\/li>\n<li>A different delivery medium, for example, using mobile phones, may enable Labcasts to be set up and delivered more frequently.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>Acknowledgements<\/strong><br \/>\nThis post discusses research and interventions developed through the Open University\u2019s RCUK-funded School-University Partnership Initiative, &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/?page_id=187\" target=\"_blank\">Engaging Opportunities<\/a>&#8216;, a partnership between the Open University and the Denbigh Teaching School Alliance.<\/p>\n<p>The RCUK Teacher CPD Initiating &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stem.org.uk\/research-councils-uk\" target=\"_blank\">Bringing Cutting Edge Research into the Classroom<\/a>&#8216; part funded the Labcast. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr Vic Pearson led the organisation of a &#8216;Labcast&#8217;, connecting Open University researchers with teachers and students from Denbigh School in Milton Keynes. Vic worked on this project with Dr Simon Sheridan, Dr Trevor Collins, Dr Gareth Davies and Professor &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/?p=6789\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93,48],"tags":[39,45,24,58,41,103,37,32,49,23,38],"class_list":["post-6789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","category-school-university-engagement","tag-denbigh-school","tag-digital-engagement","tag-engaging-opportunities","tag-engaging-research","tag-engaging-with-school-students","tag-esa","tag-media","tag-public-engagement-with-research","tag-rcuk","tag-supi","tag-web-video"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6789"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6852,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6789\/revisions\/6852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/per\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}