Students 2 Science Launches Virtual K-12 Hands-On Science Laboratory Program

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Oct 07, 2015, 01:47 ET

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students 2 Science, Inc., (S2S), the nonprofit organization that literally brings elementary, middle and high school students to its professional chemistry laboratory in Northern New Jersey to experience hands-on science education, is expanding its reach beyond the lab's walls with the launch of its Virtual Laboratory Program (V-Lab).

S2S's V-Lab program is a fully interactive, Web-based, hybrid, distance learning program for K-12 students. It delivers high quality, standards-aligned inquiry-based, hands-on science education to students -- including those with special needs -- in classroom settings, as well as at hospitals and after-school programs.

In partnership with Connectivity, Inc. and in collaboration with the American Chemical Society (ACS), S2S's V-Lab uses Connectivity's proprietary communications platform, iConnect, to enable students and the S2S Technology Center in East Hanover to simultaneously conduct supplemental, age-appropriate experiments. ACS allows the use of its content and arranges for volunteer professional scientists to provide in-classroom mentoring and instruction.

"S2S's 'bricks and mortar' model is fantastic but limited to students, teachers and volunteers who live within commuting distance of our Technology Center. The V-Lab is allowing us to significantly expand our reach outside that 30-mile range," said Paul Winslow, President, S2S.

Students question the instructors in real time. In addition, Connectivity allows for simultaneous interpretation in 150+ languages.

"V-Lab benefits both teachers and students," said Fran Nelson, S2S V-Lab Program Director. "It supports teachers in their efforts to present core curriculum subjects, while providing students with access to professionals and a technology environment that are generally unavailable to them."

Earlier this year, S2S piloted V-Lab in 11 New Jersey K-12 schools, as well as at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). Based on its success and expressed demand, S2S's goal is to expand into an additional 10 to 15 schools with roughly 100 sessions, serving more than 2,500 students throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

"The Virtual Labs are an excellent opportunity for students to conduct investigations in the classroom and interact with real scientists at the same time," said Kathleen Tierney, Principal, Newark Science Park High School. "Labs enforce content, and encourage cooperative learning. The experience truly promotes scientific inquiry- which we stress here at Science Park. Students are engaged in meaningful explorations with the content - which exposes them to the multitude of career opportunities in the field of science."

Of the 500+ students who participated in the pilot, a number were hearing impaired and special needs students from various schools and young patients in HUMC's pediatric hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant department.

"The V-Lab experience was one the children won't soon forget," said Sarah Donnangelo, Coordinator of Educational Services, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center. "It brought to them not only the fun and excitement of doing hands-on science experiments with real-live scientists, but also a sense of normalcy to their lives. We plan on hosting a V-Lab again this semester."

About Students 2 Science, Inc.

Students 2 Science, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) New Jersey non-profit corporation that inspires, motivates, and educates elementary, middle and high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM subjects). It does so by providing an authentic, state of the art laboratory experience complete with modern instrumentation and professional scientists. Teams of students, working collaboratively with teams of scientific professionals, solve real life problems while being introduced to a wide variety of STEM career opportunities. For more information, go to www.students2science.org.

SOURCE Students 2 Science, Inc.