Safety with At-Home Science Lab Kits

With the rapid growth of online education, one challenge we encounter is how to run effective, safe science lab courses online. This webinar will explore how at-home lab kits can be used safely and effectively to meet the reliability and rigor of on-campus labs. The shared practices will display that the safe, rigorous labs provide students with a rich learning opportunity to experience hands-on science labs taught online.

In this webinar, Kim Kostka and Leah Bishop will share their experiences building and teaching online labs in partnership with Carolina Biological Distance Learning, including:

  • Presenting best practices in safety using investigations designed for the off-campus setting, while maintaining college-level rigor and reliability;
  • Discussing the key features that make lab kits the best solution for online labs; and
  • Answering those burning questions you have about online science labs!

This webinar is sponsored by:

Speaker Bio
Kim Kastka, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Kim Kostka is currently a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County and is department chair for the College of Integrated Studies. Kim has been designing lab-based online and hybrid chemistry curriculum since 2001, including courses for science majors and for non-majors. Kim formerly served as the Academic Director of the UW Flexible Option program at the University of Wisconsin Extended Campus, including programs at UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, and UW-Parkside. She has also served as Interim Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Rock County and is a prior chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin Colleges. Kim holds a MS and a PhD in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Kim earned the 1999 Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the EPA, the Women of Distinction Award from the YWCA of Rock County, and the Excellence in Instruction Award from the University of Wisconsin-Rock County.
Leah Bishop

Senior Business Development Manager – Carolina Distance Learning

As Senior Business Development Manager, Leah guides the Distance Learning sales team as they serve the Carolina Distance Learning customers. She also assists instructors at higher education institutions across the country design, re-design, and implement online science labs. Before joining the team, Leah worked 8+ years in education, both in the classroom as a chemistry and physics instructor, and in industry working with Open Educational Resources to help reduce student cost.