Abstract  We are using HP mobile technology to increase undergraduate student interest, engagement and success in the science disciplines of biology and ecology.  With HP Tablet PCs in mind, OCTC faculty redesigned an ecology laboratory course to complement three different science courses, each with the potential to raise student environmental awareness.  Students are using tablets to collect field data, analyze results and share findings.  Rationale Through the proposed HP PET Project, OCTC science faculty will redesign and customize an ecology laboratory course to compliment three different science courses, each with the potential to raise environmental awareness These efforts will expose participating students to technology and its application to addressing environmental issues.  Implementation (pedagogy) Air, water, and soil testing will be conducted with Vernier Probes, and the resulting information will be uploaded into HP Tablet PCs for on-site study.  HP equipment will also be used on-site allowing students to record field notes, perform research, and communicate with others, all of which support the accuracy of data.  More importantly, student interest in learning will be sparked as a result of seeing something and measuring it immediately. Impact on Technology To collect and analyze data, ecology students will be using Vernier Software and Technology along with HP Tablet PCs.  Students will also be using spreadsheet programs to compile and analyze and compile acquired field data for immediate study in the field. Microsoft OneNote will be used by faculty to convey on-the-spot questions to students distributed throughout the field study area. Implementation (technology) Beginning in June 2007 OCTC science faculty redesigned and customized ecology laboratory projects to compliment three different science courses, each with the potential to raise environmental awareness.  We have been able to incorporate the HP Notebooks in to both the BIO 120 Human Ecology class and BIO 121 Ecology Lab.  From there we have begun to incorporate the HP Notebooks in the BIO 141 Botany class and BIO 143 Zoology class as well as the BIO 295 Independent Investigations in Biology.  However our goals are too which more students, including students from local high schools and primary schools Future Goals We are looking forward in the next 2 semester to incorporate the technology into the BIO 113 General Biology Lab and BIO 112  Introduction to Biology courses.  We are looking forward to working with Colligate High School students and the Nature Day Program that involves children from the local primary schools.  We feel it is important to bring in both the greater academic community but the local civic communities as well.  To that end we are establishing a Environmental and Ecology Club.  They will be able to test the conditions of our campus watershed and incorporate the information with other ecology programs.   Impact on Teaching The redesigned Introduction to Ecology Laboratory course is the focus of the project , which will complement the lecture courses of Human Ecology, Introduction to Biology, and Conservation Biology by providing hand-on research field and laboratory experiences.  The learning experience will include ecology students performing data collection, analyzing results and sharing findings under field and laboratory conditions.  Students will also have the opportunity to showcase lab reports and other project results through onsite poster presentation sessions.  Project goals are to increase student interest in the ecological and biological sciences while focusing on content comprehension, critical thinking, and retention. Impact on Student Learning Impact on Student Learning:  One Year Ago - Ecology students were mostly in a traditional classroom setting and when in the field, they collected data with rudimentary sampling instruments.  Students also had to hand write data metrics and record observations by hand, which increases the probability of errors in data collection and data transfer. Today - Ecology students use HP Tablet PCs with Vernier Probes and Software to sample air, water and soil.  Resulting data values are uploaded immediately to tablets in the field for on-site study and field analyses.  Such equipment and techniques support of the accuracy of data collection and encourage student interest and engagement. One Year From Now - We propose to increase interest in science to pre-college students by incorporating technology in science through proposed service learning seminars.  Such students include Collegiate High School students located our campus and visiting primary school students.  We also are looking forward to incorporating HP Tablet PCs in additional introductory biology courses.

Quick Facts Dept: Biology Department Courses Impacted: BIO 120 Human Ecology BIO 121 Ecology Lab BIO 141 Botany BIO 143 Zoology BIO 112 Introduction to Biology BIO 113 General Biology Lab Students Impacted:  160 students to date # Faculty Involved: 4 faculty members Micah Perkins, Assistant Professor of Biology Geralyn M. Caplan, Associate Professor of Biology This project is funded in part by a 2007 HP Technology for Teaching grant.   Contact Us Micah Perkins;  Assistant Professor of Biology micah.perkins@kctcs.edu 270-686-4610 Geralyn M. Caplan; Associate Professor of Biology geralyn.caplan@kctcs.edu 270-686-4636 Owensboro Community and Technical College 4800 New Hartford Road Owensboro, KY 42303 www.octc.kctcs.edu/science References & Publications This project supported in part by an HP Technology for Teaching grant.