Virtual science labs: web sites featuring simulated chemistry labs or virtual frog dissections are becoming popular teaching tools. But are they a substitute for hands-on experience?Virtual chemistry labs and other online simulations, like the ones that let students dissect dissect /dis·sect/ (di-sekt´) (di-sekt´) 1. to cut apart, or separate. 2. to expose structures of a cadaver for anatomical study. dis·sect v. virtual frogs or pigs, have become widely used science teaching tools. They allow students to perform experiments that would be too costly or dangerous to do at their local high schools. Now, a dispute has flared flare v. flared, flar·ing, flares v.intr. 1. To flame up with a bright, wavering light. 2. To burst into intense, sudden flame. 3. a. over how far the Internet can go in displacing brick-and-mortar labs. A.P. CREDIT? The College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement courses, has set up panels of science professors and online educators to review online labs offered by Web-based schools for A.P. courses. The panels will help the Board determine whether high schools can apply the A.P. designation to online science courses on the transcripts of students applying to college starting this fall. Twenty-five states operate Internet-based schools like the Florida Virtual School Founded in 1997 by President and CEO Julie Young, the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is one of the largest online middle and high schools in the United States. It is the only public online school--and likely the first of any kind of public school--to be funded on a performance basis. , the nation's largest, with 40,000 students. The North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. Council for Online Learning estimates that 60,000 public-school students are enrolled in online science courses. "Professors are saying that simulations can be really good, that they use them to supplement their own lab work, but that they'd be concerned about giving credit to students who have never had any experience in a hands-on lab," says Trevor Packer packer /pack·er/ (pak´er) an instrument for introducing a dressing into a cavity or a wound. pack·er n. 1. An instrument for tamponing. 2. See plugger. , the College Board's executive director for A.P. "You could have students going straight into second-year college science courses without ever having used a Bunsen burner Bunsen burner, gas burner, commonly used in scientific laboratories, consisting essentially of a hollow tube which is fitted vertically around the flame and which has an opening at the base to admit air. A smokeless, nonluminous flame of high temperature is produced. ." Internet-based educators are seeking to convince the board, and the public, that their virtual labs are educationally sound, pointing out that their students earn high scores on the A.P. exams. And for some students, the choice is between a virtual lab and no lab at all. "Thousands of schools in rural areas don't have science labs, but they have kids who want to go to college and need that science-inquiry experience," says Susan Patrick, president of the North American Council. "Virtual science labs are their only option." Sam Dillon writes about education for The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times. |
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