Principal Investigator: Derrick Stevens, Mohawk Valley Community College This project will pilot an Open Physics Lab at MVCC for use by any institution or individual. The Open Physics Lab will provide remote access through the web to physical experiments housed at MVCC similar to those used in introductory physics courses. Students and educators will be able to control the experiments remotely and collect data for analysis. As content and courses push to be more open and accessible, laboratory sciences face the problem of bringing the laboratory experience to their students. This project aims to provide that experience in an easily accessible and flexible manner. As these experiments will be fully automated, use may occur from any location at anytime 24/7. In accessing this project, the project coordinators are interested in how the use of a remote lab in physics courses compares to a more traditional setting, and how access to a remote lab may benefit all students in physics courses of any structure. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Shahida Dar, Assistant Professor of Physics, Mohawk Valley Community College Reports and Resources:

Principal Investigator: Mary Perrelli, Buffalo State Geographic Information Systems are an important emerging technology with broad application across many disciplines. SUNY has a site wide license for ESRI software, the leader in GIS technology, however these resources are currently underutilized. This project will develop a GIS Tech Hub to leverage shareable resources across campus, foster intellectual collaborations, integrate emerging technologies, and provide research support and training to students, faculty and local professionals. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Wende Mix, Associate Professor, School of Natural and Social Sciences, Geography and Planning Department, Buffalo State Kelly M. Frothingham, Chair and Associate Professor, School of Natural and Social Sciences, Geography and Planning Department, Buffalo State Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Principal Investigator: Nathan Whitley-Grassi, Empire State College We propose to develop and share six ecology/earth science virtual field experiences as OERs, based on the need to develop resources and expand access to scientific field-based research techniques for students learning at a distance or with other barriers to access. The OERs will consist of a series of broad and adaptable field activities supplemented with handouts and videos from the field site to provide immersion online. Our goal is to provide students with research skills needed to increase competency in the field after graduation by engaging them in common research techniques and methods for data collection and analysis. In an effort to ensure quality, each OER will be reviewed and examined for quality and accessibility. Importantly, these OERs will be part of the larger SUNY community as a resource in an online repository in the SUNY Learning Commons (SLC) that could be utilized by future Open SUNY programs. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Audeliz Matias, Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator in Science, Center for Distance Learning, Empire State College Kevin Woo, Assistant Professor and Faculty Chair, Empire State Colleges Reports and Resources: Mid-project report

Principal Investigator: Scott Giorgis, Geneseo Students often struggle with the 3D visualization skills necessary to reduce a 3D data set (landscape) down to a 2D, flat expression (paper topographic map). The augmented reality sandbox bridges the gap between 2D and 3D visualization by projecting a topographic map onto a landscape created in a sandbox. As that sandbox landscape is altered, the topographic map dynamically adjusts in real time to match the landscape, giving students the opportunity to discover how to read topographic maps on their own. We propose to construct two augmented reality sandboxes and develop the curriculum to deploy them in both introductory and upper level courses. Moreover, we will expand upon the augmented reality sandbox open source code to incorporate aspects of geologic map visualization. Potential student gains in 3D visualizations and/or topographic map reading skills will be quantitatively assessed and materials will be shared both nationally and within the SUNY system. Co-PI’s and Key Partners: Kirk Anne, Assistant Director, Manager of Systems & Networking, Computing and Information Technology (CIT) Nancy Mahlen, Instructional Support Specialist, Department of Geological Sciences, Geneseo