A virtual reality chemistry activity was evaluated as a supplement to laboratory instruction for first-year college chemistry classes. Student self-evaluation of confidence in certain lab activities was surveyed prior to and post VR session.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Virtual reality offers an engaging and kinesthetic way to supplement lab-based instruction; 2. The virtual environment can evaluate student lab performance on a level that can't be duplicated in a laboratory setting; and 3. VR offers an effective source of remediation for students lagging in labo

SPEAKERS:
Donald Carpenetti (Craven Community College: New Bern, NC)

Case study research on three pre-service teaching candidates will be shared about their work in recording narrative audio podcasts about their science and science education experiences. Candidates narrated stories and life experiences they draw upon in their current design and implementation of science instruction with elementary and middle grades students. We conducted a focus group interview to learn more about the candidates’ podcasting experiences. Findings will be shared through the lens of Carlone and Johnson’s (2007) Model of Science Identity regarding how the participants perceived their science identities through engaging in science practices, self-efficacy for engaging in and teaching science, and being recognized as ‘scientific’ by others. The candidates published their recordings on a podcast feed and portions of their work will be shared along with the assignment instructions and criteria that were provided to the candidates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn approaches for integrating narrative podcasting assignments as a means of facilitating professional reflection and critical thinking around teaching candidates’ science identities and the ways they impact their design and implementation of science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica VanValkenburgh (Columbus State University: Columbus, GA), Aaron Gierhart (Columbus State University: Columbus, GA)

Creating accessible instructional content and assessments can be challenging for any course, but STEM courses requiring complex mathematical equations, scientific formulas, or special symbols can make the challenges more difficult. Some of these challenges require subject-specific resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session attendees will walk away with access to a myriad of resources that assist instructors in including complex equations, formulas, and symbols in their content and assessments, making them more accessible to all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Rodenbeck (Assistant Director of Academic Web Accessibility: Kennesaw, GA), KIMBERLY LOOMIS (Kennesaw State University: Kennesaw, GA)