Credits

['weelookang@gmail.com', 'Francisco Esquembre', 'Felix J. Garcia Clemente', 'story by jiawen']

 

Learning Goals

 

For Teachers

Title: Unraveling the Wonders of Transpiration: A Virtual Lab Odyssey

link

 

Introduction:

Embarking on the journey to understand the intricate processes of transpiration, we, like many educators, initially turned to commercial vendors for virtual lab solutions. However, our attempt proved to be a challenge, prompting us to explore the fascinating world of in-house production using the Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations (EJSS) platform. In this blog post, we'll share our virtual lab odyssey and the triumphant rescue that ultimately led to a more engaging and effective learning experience.

 

The Quest for a Virtual Transpiration Lab:

Virtual labs have become indispensable tools for educators aiming to provide hands-on learning experiences in science classrooms. In our pursuit of a virtual transpiration lab, we initially opted for a commercial vendor solution. Despite the promises of interactivity and immersive simulations, the reality fell short of our expectations. The interface was clunky, requires lots of supervision and feedback, even after feedback, the interactive failed to be improved, the simulations lacked depth, likely going to result in students struggled to connect with the content.

 

The Turning Point:

Frustrated but undeterred, we decided to take matters into our own hands. Enter Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations (EJSS), a versatile and user-friendly platform that empowers educators to create custom simulations tailored to their curriculum. Armed with EJSS, we set out to develop a virtual transpiration lab that would not only meet our educational objectives but also captivate the imagination of our students.

 

The EJSS Advantage:

EJSS offered a range of benefits that proved to be a game-changer in our quest for an effective virtual lab:

1. **Customization:** EJSS allowed us to tailor the simulation to align perfectly with our curriculum. We could include specific variables, scenarios, and challenges that mirrored real-world transpiration processes. 

2. **User-Friendly Interface:** Unlike the cumbersome interface of the commercial vendor, EJSS was intuitive and easy for both educators and students to navigate. This ensured a seamless learning experience without unnecessary distractions.

3. **Interactivity:** EJSS facilitated a higher level of interactivity, enabling students to manipulate variables, observe outcomes, and draw conclusions. The dynamic nature of the simulations brought the concept of transpiration to life in ways that static textbook illustrations simply couldn't due to the time varying nature of the experiment.

4. **Cost-Effectiveness:** Developing our virtual lab in-house with EJSS proved to be a cost-effective solution compared to the ongoing failed development and fees associated with the commercial vendor.

 

The Virtual Transpiration Lab in Action:

With EJSS at our disposal, we crafted a virtual transpiration lab that exceeded our initial expectations. Students could explore the impact of environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, on transpiration rates. They could observe changes in plant structure and water uptake, fostering a deeper understanding of the biological processes at play.

The feedback from students would be overwhelmingly positive. The virtual lab not only enhanced comprehension but also sparked a newfound enthusiasm for plant biology. The hands-on experience, even in a virtual setting, made the topic more accessible and engaging.

 

Conclusion:

Our journey from disappointment with a commercial vendor to triumph with in-house production using EJSS underscores the importance of adaptability in the realm of resource development in education context. Virtual labs play a crucial role in modern teaching, and finding the right tools can make all the difference. By embracing platforms like EJSS, educators can take control of their virtual lab experiences, ensuring that students not only learn but also find joy in the exploration of complex scientific concepts. The transpiration virtual lab, once a source of frustration, many rounds of discussions with the vendor with little of no improvement and progress became a testament to the power of customization and innovation in education.

 

 Why Open Source is Key to the Continual Improvement of Educational Content

Introduction 🌍📖💡

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, the need for continuous improvement and adaptation is crucial. Open-source platforms and tools have emerged as powerful enablers of this transformation, providing educators and learners with collaborative, transparent, and customizable solutions. One such example is the Transpiration Virtual Lab: Factors Affecting Transpiration (Control, Plastic Bag, Fan, Lamp, and Heater) in 3 Hours, https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/biology/1182-transpiration-sec an interactive simulation that allows students to explore the effects of environmental conditions on plant water loss.

This blog explores why open-source models are essential for the continual enhancement of educational content and how interactive simulations benefit from this approach.

The Power of Open Source in Education 🚀🔓🌱

1. Collaboration and Community-Driven Innovation 🤝🧑‍🏫💡

Open-source educational tools thrive on collective contributions. Developers, educators, and students worldwide can suggest improvements, identify errors, and add new features to enhance learning experiences. For instance, in the Transpiration Virtual Lab, users identified an error in marking the correct answer, highlighting the importance of real-time feedback and community-driven debugging.

2. Transparency and Adaptability 🔍✏️⚙️

Unlike proprietary educational software, open-source platforms provide complete visibility into their source code. This transparency enables:

• Educators to modify content to align with specific curricula.

• Students to understand the underlying logic of simulations.

• Researchers to build upon existing models to create more sophisticated versions.

By making the source code of the Transpiration Virtual Lab publicly available, educators can tailor the simulation to different learning levels, adding variables such as wind speed, temperature, or soil moisture to enrich the experiment.

3. Interactivity for Deeper Engagement 🎮🔬📊

Interactive content fosters experiential learning, a proven method for deeper understanding. Open-source projects like the transpiration lab allow users to tweak parameters and visualize real-time effects, reinforcing theoretical concepts through hands-on experience.

In the case of the Transpiration Virtual Lab, students can actively manipulate humidity levels, observe changes in water uptake, and compare transpiration rates under different conditions. This type of engagement helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.

The Real-World Impact of Open Source in Education 🌎📚🔗

Many well-known educational platforms embrace open-source principles:

• PhET Interactive Simulations: 🚀 Developed at the University of Colorado Boulder, these simulations are widely used for STEM education. 🌍📚

• WebEJS: A platform for creating and sharing interactive physics and math simulations using Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS). https://www.um.es/fem/wikis/runwebejs/

• TrackerJS: An open-source video analysis tool for physics education, enabling students to model and analyze motion in experiments. https://physlets.org/tracker/trackerJS/

• Moodle: An open-source Learning Management System (LMS) that empowers institutions to create custom learning experiences.

• Jupyter Notebooks: Used in programming and data science education, enabling interactive code execution and visualization.

The Transpiration Virtual Lab aligns with this movement, demonstrating how open-source tools can drive engagement and continuous improvement in science education.

For more details on the Transpiration Virtual Lab, visit the following link: Transpiration Virtual Lab.

Challenges and the Path Forward 🚧💡🔄

Despite its benefits, open-source education faces challenges such as funding, sustainability, and quality control. Addressing these requires:

• Institutional support and funding models to sustain development.

• Strong community governance to ensure quality and prevent misinformation.

• Encouraging educators to actively participate in content improvement.

By fostering an ecosystem where educators contribute back to the community, open-source educational tools can continue to evolve and remain relevant in modern pedagogy.

Conclusion 🎓🌟🔗

Special thanks to David Bowden for his valuable feedback in improving this discussion. The Transpiration Virtual Lab is a prime example of how open-source interactivity enhances learning. Open-source education ensures that tools remain up-to-date, accurate, and customizable to meet diverse learning needs. As more institutions and educators embrace this model, the future of education will be shaped by transparency, collaboration, and innovation—unlocking endless possibilities for learners worldwide.

 

Question: the bubble appears to go backwards. Does water come back out of the plant stem backwards?

Transpiration Virtual Lab

 

No, water does not naturally move backwards out of the plant stem under normal transpiration conditions. The backward movement of the bubble in your transpiration app simulation could be due to a few possible reasons:

1. Pressure Fluctuations: If there is a sudden change in air pressure within the tubing system, it could temporarily push the water column backward.

2. Leakage or Air Bubbles: If there is a small leak in the setup or trapped air bubbles in the tubing, they might cause irregular movements of the water bubble.

3. Capillary Action and Water Adhesion: The water might momentarily move backward due to capillary forces within the tube if the pressure inside the xylem changes due to environmental factors.

4. The data is from real life data collected by teacher collaborators, it could reflect the conditions in the school labs.

Video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxh28CTEcM 

 Version:

1. https://weelookang.blogspot.com/2023/12/transpiration-virtual-lab-after-failed.html
2. https://weelookang.blogspot.com/2021/05/transpiration-virtual-lab-with-9-plants.html original simulation by kyrin
3. https://vle.learning.moe.edu.sg/mrv/community-gallery/admin/lesson/view/b411241e-4236-4c4b-a175-ca3b122ef9e3/page/1649553
4. Transpiration Virtual Lab for Dynamic Environments for Room, Light, Windy and Humid by jiawen
5. Transpiration Virtual Lab with 9 Plants (English Ivy, Weeping Fig, Dieffenbachia, Devil's Ivy, Arrowhead, Coleus, Geranium, Rubber Plant and Zebra Plant) Under 4 Conditions (none, wind or air movement temperature ..
6. Transpiration Virtual Lab Factors affecting Transpiration Virtual Lab (Control, Plastic Bag, Fan, Lamp and Heater ) in 3 hours

Other Resources