Evaluation of NOVA Labs: Cloud Lab

NOVA Labs (www.pbs.org/nova/labs) is a web-based platform designed for use by educators, students, and teens to engage learners with authentic data, processes, and tools of working scientists. The present evaluation study sought to investigate the outcomes achieved by users of the third NOVA Labs platform developed: Cloud Lab. The intended outcomes identified for student users were that they would: • Be able to successfully work with the real data provided in the Cloud Lab; • Demonstrate ability to interpret and use scientific data and tools; • Engage with real scientific data through the Cloud Lab The intended outcomes identified for teacher users were that they would: • Be able to successfully facilitate lessons using the NOVA Labs resources; • Explore new and innovative ways to deploy NOVA Labs for teaching science content; • Demonstrate interest in further opportunities to incorporate real scientific data in the classroom. The evaluation used multiple methods. The primary approach was identifying five teachers across the country who intended to implement Cloud Lab in Fall 2013. From these test classrooms (grades 5-8), evaluators collected pre/post-test data from their 300+ student users, and post- implementation interviews with the teacher-users. Supporting this study, was an effort to survey teachers known to NOVA Education as possible Labs users. A web-based survey was sent to 138 teachers identified by NOVA Education; 37 responded, 21 of whom were Cloud Lab users.