Distance learning as a new method for studying the earth sciences in high school

Abstract

The aim of this research was to develop a computerized distance-learning unit that will fit the needs of the Israeli high-school earth-science syllabus. the ability of students to conduct lab-activities as a part of a distance-learning unit was the main focus of this study. As part of this work, a web- site was developed for this course. It includes a home- page for the students, a message page, information about the course, links to related sites and web-based activities. The activities section contains hands- on lab- activities, scientific papers, a web- search page and a database for performing analyses. The program was implemented in six grade- 12 classes containing 70 students in total. Implementation was followed by a formative- evaluation study that focused on three students and utilized qualitative research- tools. The research- tools included interviews and observations that were made on the students as they performed the web- based lab-oratory activities. These tools enabled us to analyze students’ performance during the web- based hands0 on lab (Web-HOL) activities. The main findings of this study are: It is possible to conduct successful, hands-on lab-based distance learning. A majority of the students improved their independent learning- skills after using the materials found in the distance- learning activities. Based on our experience and findings we suggest that the difficulties described above are not unique to student performance during Web-HOL activities specifically but rather to hands-on lab- activities in general