Proposal

Narrative

Undergraduate lab sessions play a critical role in creating and reinforcing conceptual understanding in STEM education (1). Hands-on labs facilitate students’ inquiry processing skills, help students explore concepts in a tactile way, and boost students’ overall enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence in the material (1). However, it can be challenging to maintain engagement for obscure concepts or be inclusive to all learners, each and every lab session. Other challenges include cost of lab materials and equipment, accessibility, and the general difficulty of the subject matter (1). Augmented reality (AR) may offer us a solution to many of these issues. AR overlays digital information in the user’s real life (think Pokémon Go). AR allows the user to grasp things in reality they may not have without the digital overlay. Seeing things in 3D in a real environment that you can manipulate or pull apart a bit allows users to increase their engagement and understanding of the concepts or theories. Many sectors are taking advantage of AR, especially education and healthcare. The global augmented reality in health care market is expected to grow a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.9% (2). The trend continues as the demand increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (2). If the past year has shown us anything, it is that students who are more technologically savvy will have an easier time adjusting to new teaching formats and the future of solving problems and interacting with our world. We aim to prepare our students for the challenges that lie ahead and to make sure they have access to what will be the norm in the future. The Biology department serves over 2000 diverse undergraduate students each semester in our teaching labs. To serve these students and continue to ignite curiosity in the classroom, the Biology department is asking for funds to purchase 48 zSpace AR laptops and their accessories. *Citations available in supporting documentation*

Facilities

N/A. We are planning for mobile laptop carts.

Hardware Requirements

The Biology department is asking for funds to purchase 48 zSpace AR laptops and their accessories-including tracker glasses (for student doing the AR frog dissection for example), stylus per laptop (the AR tool that would allow the student to perform the dissection in the AR field), and tracker glasses (glasses which allow the other students in the group to actively engage in the activity without being the ones in the control). This model moves away from virtual reality, which didn’t allow for students in the group to interact/experience the information the same way as the primary student operating the tech in a completely artificial environment. The aim of introducing AR is to have all students in the classroom to be on pace with one another and bridge the gap between concepts and comprehension. By broadening overall engagement, we aim to increase accessibility and inclusivity in the lab. We hope to have the laptops deployed in Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Biodiversity, Bioprinciples, and Life Science labs on a regular basis (offered in SC116, SC115, SC 143, SC144, SC145, SC146) and working in tandem with traditional hands-on curriculum. Pricing details in supporting documentation and resource spreadsheet.

Software Requirements

We will need yearly subscriptions to VIVED Science, Visible Body Human Anatomy Atlas, VIVED Anatomy and Virtual ECG Training Application.

Personnel Costs

The lab coordinator would want to sign up for the remote onboarding training (one-time cost of $750 dollars) offered by Bluegrass. Bluegrass also offers remote professional development groups (up to 6 participants at $300 per session). Most TAs teach for multiple semesters. This training would also be an investment in their professional development as GTAs. There is potential where TAs who have taken this remote professional development peer-train other TAs post workshop, too.

Other Costs

In an effort to keep our Owl community safe in these unprecedented times, in addition to the cost of the AR laptops and accessories, we are asking for funds for 8 UV wands ($70 dollars each) to make sanitizing a quick and easy process for TAs and students. Wands sterilize equipment in 10 seconds and are rechargeable via USB. We are also asking for funds for two laptop carts/charing stations (each $758.99) to make sure that supplies are kept in good working condition. We factored replacements into our budget (210 dollars each fiscal year in case new UV wands need to be purchased).

Timeline

Once the project is approved, we start the process of procuring the AR equipment asap so we could incorporate augmented reality lessons into the following semester.

Sustainability

While the start up cost of this project is large, it could be maintained at low cost. Receiving this grant would allow us to reallocate some funds used for traditional hands-on supplies to the learning application subscriptions for students to use over the years. College of Science OIT can help with the maintenance of the laptops (virus scanning etc), and the company, zSpace offers tech support as well. To mitigate theft, laptops will be stored in a locked prep space. TAs will receive training on proper protocol and care of the laptops and all AR accessories each semester.

Resource Matching

N/A

Implementing Organization

Bluegrass Educational Technologies, LLC is a zSpace approved vendor and offers support to new schools trying to incorporate this technology into the classroom. The department chair, the lab coordinator and budget coordinator will work together with this organization to make sure funds are allocated appropriately.