Peer Review

Nova Labs PBS

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Overview:: NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages teens and lifelong learners in games and interactives that foster authentic scientific exploration. From predicting solar storms and constructing renewable energy systems to tracking cloud movement and designing RNA molecules, NOVA Labs participants can conduct investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and sharing the same data that scientists use.
Type of Material:: Interactive web site with educational games, videos, quizzes and more.
Recommended Uses:: From predicting solar storms and constructing renewable energy systems to tracking cloud movement and designing RNA molecules, NOVA Labs participants can conduct investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and sharing the same data that scientists use. The site lends itself to individual or group lessons, in-class or homework, or self-paced study.
Technical Requirements:: Must be able to view video on the computer.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages teens and lifelong learners in games and interactive challenges that foster authentic scientific exploration.
Target Student Population:: middle school through adult learner
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: No prerequisite knowledge required.

Rating:
Strengths:: There are many ways for users to bring NOVA Labs into their classrooms, after school program, day camp, or other educational programs. Every Lab presents a particular subject and allows teens to develop their own questions and investigations around that subject. Current labs include: Evolution, Cybersecurity, RNA, Cloud, Energy, and Sun. (More are on the way.) Each Lab comes with a collection of free videos that provide the background information that will help users succeed in the Lab's research challenge. The concepts explored in these videos range from the basic to the more nuanced and complex. Together, they are intended to give users a solid foundation in the relevant scientific principles and an understanding of why each area of research matters
Concerns:: None.

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Strengths:: Each Lab includes an activity where users will explore a new data set and/or scientific phenomenon. While the challenges will vary—some being more open-ended, others being more structured and game-like—they will all encourage users to conduct their own scientific analyses and investigations. For each Lab, additional ideas and materials are provided for educators that are specific to that Lab and subject area. Furthermore, for each Lab there is a list of related opportunities and career exploration resources relevant to teens. Teens will find internships, scholarship, science competitions, and other ways to stay involved in science on the “Opportunities” page. The videos provided for each lab are high quality and can generate further study simply by viewing them. However, the labs themselves provide direct and specific ownership in the learning of the content. These Labs can be used in a variety of ways such as independent study, team investigations, or introducing a concept or unit.
Concerns:: None.

Rating:
Strengths:: The design and layout of Nova Labs is clean, clear, current, and intuitive. Tabs for the Labs, Videos, About, Opportunities, and Educators are clearly presented at the top of each page for quick navigation. By creating a free account, users are able to save their progress in the labs. In addition to making new content and data available and accessible, NOVA Labs provides an online community on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, in which users can share, ask questions, or learn about recent observations or ideas that have come up in the various fields of research.
Concerns:: None.

Other Issues and Comments:: The site provides variety of other opportunities including fairs, programs, competitions, research projects. Users can use interactives but if person does not sign in with log in then progress cannot be saved.
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