From KAREN wiki

LENScience[1] provides school teachers and students with access to scientific research communities. Programmes are designed to inspire schools to maximise student potential through a wide range of high quality learning opportunities for both students and teachers. LENScience was established in 2006 by the Liggins Institute [2]with strong support from the National Research Centre for Growth and Development[3]. All programmes are designed by experienced secondary school science teachers, working in collaboration with scientists.

LENScience Connect has arisen from a desire to explore the potential for e-learning in the delivery of education programmes that link schools and scientists together through the LENScience initiative. LENScience Connect broadcasts interactive seminars to schools using either KAREN Multicast via the National Education Network, or Satellite Television. Interactivity is achieved using online chat, Wiki, and where schools have the capability, VC connection via KAREN. The programme brings Year 13 students from throughout New Zealand together for regular seminars, designed to provide learning extension opportunities that link current NZ scientific research to concepts in the school curriculum. The teaching and learning programme is designed to be a partnership between schools and LENScience. The technology model used in delivery was designed by The University of Auckland Information Technology Services in collaboration with Kordia.

The LENScience Connect 2009 Seminar Series involved nearly 100 schools in 8 seminars for Y13 Biology Students during terms 2 - 4. Funding and support in-kind for the programme has been provided by The Liggins Institute, Kordia, KAREN Capability Grant, University of Auckland ITS, National Research Centre for Growth and Development, and VoltTV.

The programme has moved from a phase of concept trials in 2007 and 2008 to a fully developed teaching and learning platform. Evaluation in 2008 proved the platform to be effective (a) in achieving delivery of innovative education programmes to schools both within the National Education Network and schools with limited broadband access and (b) showing that students from the remote and live audiences had an equivalent learning experience. An extended evaluation of the learning outcomes and interactions between students, scientists and teachers resulting from the Senior Biology Seminar Series 2009 is currently underway.

LENScience Connect was the winner of the 2009 TUANZ Education Innovation Award[4].

Contents 1 Using KAREN 2 Research Findings 3 LENScience Connect 2010 4 Contacts

Using KAREN

LENScience Connect utilised KAREN multicast and VC capability to link to schools on the National Education Network. While only a small number of secondary schools are on the NEN, many are sending students to local universities to receive the broadcasts. This is demonstrating to the schools the potential of having a NEN connection on site. During the latter part of 2009 we conducted the first trials using KAREN VC capability to bring students from KAREN capable schools live into the satellite broadcast which then went to students in both NEN schools and schools that are receiving the broadcasts via satellite television. This live face to face interaction available importantly demonstrates the value of NEN connection to schools.

Research Findings

During 2009 we used mixed methods (questionnaires, interviews and review of interactions via Web 2.0) to examine the types of interactions that were being utilised by members of the learning community created by LENScience Connect Senior Biology Seminar Series 2009.

Providing Actual Interaction between Members of the Learning Community

A key goal of the model was the need to provide an environment where actual interaction could occur between participants, rather than a model where interaction was one way, from scientists or teachers to students. Opinion feedback from teachers, students and scientists suggested that the programme model provided them with the opportunity for interaction.

Interactions within the Question-Answer Session The live Q&A session occurred at the end of each seminar, ranging in time from 20 - 30 minutes. Questions could be sent in advance via wiki, during the seminar via wiki, during the seminar via live chat or during the seminar from the live audience. The most active space for questioning was the live chat where student questions developed within discussion. The example below is a question that developed after a discussion between a group of students that occurred for 6 minutes involving 5 schools prior to the development of this question.

Students within the live audience commented that they believed they were disadvantaged because they could not confer with other students in the development of questions. The majority of questions were complex and developed from ideas presented within the seminar. Almost all participant scientists noted that the consistently high level of complexity of questions surprised and at times challenged them.

Interactions within the Online Live Chat The volume of interactions within the live-chat varied from 100 - 470 within a single seminar. Initial interactions tended to be social (pre-seminar and initial 10 minutes). Interactions could be classified as enabling confirmation of ideas, argumentation, extrapolation, and collaborative thinking. Students who used the on-line chat did so regularly.

LENScience Connect 2010

As a result of the success of the LENScience Connect 2009 programme, we are pleased to announce that the National Research Centre for Growth and Development have funded the on-going development of this programme.

LENScience Connect 2010 includes [5]:

- Senior Biology Seminar Series (Year 13)
- National Education Events for Year 7-11 students 
- LENScience Teacher Professional Development Series 2010
- Collaborations between the NRCGD funded LENScience Connect and the Allan Wilson Centre and Bio Protection Institute 
- Delivery of programmes designed to enhance education achievement for Maori and Pacific students, funded by Te Puni Kokiri

Contacts

LENScience and LENScience Connect | Jacquie Bay[6], Director LENScience | j.bay@auckland.ac.nz

The IT Architecture and KAREN linkage in LENScience Connect | Robert Hamilton, Technology Architect, University of Auckland | robert.hamilton@auckland.ac.nz

The satelite television technology used in the LENScience Connect | Jannine Wilkinson, Account Director Kordia™[7] | Jannine.Wilkinson@kordia.co.nz

The Television Production used in the LENScience Connect | David Hedge, Director / Executive Producer VOLT TV PRODUCTIONS LTD | volttv@ihug.co.nz