Essential Physics

Essential Physics is a new high school physics curriculum that combines a fresh, energy-oriented treatment of physics with a strong pre-engineering and technology focus. The Essential Physics curriculum includes a brand new text that meets all existing physics standards—in both a printed book and an exceptional electronic book. A wide range of interactive simulations, animations, video, and interactive equations are integrated directly into the e-Book. The program also contains a custom-designed set of laboratory apparatus that work with our exceptional e-Book technology - including our ErgoBot. For more information see Essential Physics

Programming and Robotics

One of our family of supplemental curriculum modules, Programming and Robotics is a complete introduction to programming using robotics as an ideal context to engage students. This short-course is unique in that it seamlessly integrates hardware, software, and curriculum so the teacher can be sure everything works. For more details see ErgoBot Robotics system and the Programming and Robotics curriculum.

Hands On Equipment

Students engage when they actually do science. The curriculum must turn their actions and observations into understanding. This interaction works best when the equipment and curriculum are designed together so each complements the other. This is especially true when technology is involved. Ergopedia creates high-quality, accurate, and rugged equipment for hands-on learning. Our equipment is technologically sophisticated, yet easy to use and maintain. For more details see Equipment.

2008-2011: A Natural Approach to Chemistry

A Natural Approach to Chemistry is a complete, inquiry-based learning system including a textbook, laboratory investigations manual, teacher's guide, and a full complement of innovative lab equipment designed by Ergopedia. The Lab-Master™ integrates probes, a test-tube heater that can boil 20 mL of water in two minutes, and an easy-to-use RGB spectrophotometer in a rugged, spill-resistant instrument.

Published by LAB-AIDS®, A Natural Approach to Chemistry already has been adopted by several states (including Delaware, Illinois, and Florida), as well as large and small urban districts such as Pittsburgh, PA and Springfield, MA. For more information see Chemistry.

2005-2010: CPO Science video series

23 episodes on 3 discs

Video and animation are part of the every-day experience of students today. Ergopedia has spent more than a decade developing video production, animation, and visualization tools using an array of proven technology. This series was produced for CPO Science over a four-year period and includes content from across the science disciplines: biology, ecology, earth science, astronomy, chemistry, and physics. The videos run from 12 to 30 minutes and are unique in their extensive use of text and mathematics on-screen. This is curriculum that also entertains. When viewed on a DVD player, each video includes interactive elements that use the player's remote to control simulations and assessments.

2007-2009: K-6 science teacher training video series

28 episodes - web video format

FOSS is the market leading hands-on science program for grades K-6. In 2007 Delta Education, the publisher of FOSS contracted with Ergopedia to produce a series of professional development videos to match specific science lessons in the curriculum selected by the New York Public Schools. The 28 episodes in this series cover science content (not kit training) and range in length from 17 to 30 minutes. They include on-location and studio footage that present science concepts and demonstrate innovative teaching strategies appropriate for elementary and middle school science classes.

2007-2008: Science of atoms and molecules

In this NSF-funded project, Ergopedia worked with The Concord Consortium's award-winning Molecular Workbench software to create series of short, interactive DVD lessons that enabled students and teachers to visualize and explore advanced concepts related to atoms and molecules.

Each lesson begins with a few minutes of content followed by either an interactive simulation, an interactive question, or both. The 46 lessons span six content areas in physics, chemistry, and biochemistry. Ergopedia made extensive use of Jmol scripts—open-source scientific software to view chemical structures—to produce three-dimensional molecular animations. The animations help students visualize difficult concepts, such as how bond polarity affects surface charge distribution and how molecules “recognize” other molecules by matching surface charges and shapes. The interactive elements use the DVD player's remote as a controller, making a computer unnecessary! This innovation makes the DVD a reliable, easy-to-use, and safe classroom tool, because there is no need to install software, negotiate a firewall, or access the internet.

2004-2005: SBIR award from the U.S. Department of Education

Ergopedia won a Small Business Innovation for Research grant in 2004 from the U.S. Department of Education. The title was "Lab-Science Through Distance Learning: Certification for In-Service Teachers" and the grant was funded under CFDA Number: 84.305S Institute of Education Sciences, Priority 2.

The award funded research to create and evaluate prototypes for a coordinated program of curriculum, equipment, software, and instruction to make hands-on, lab-based science content accessible through distance learning. The long-term goal was for in-service teachers to become highly qualified in science content areas, such as physics. Teachers registering for an online course could do labs because they would receive the lab equipment package as part of their course materials. Phase I developed lessons in physics, demonstrating innovation in four key areas: inquiry-based curriculum; instruction via interactive DVD's; hand-held computer software for data visualization and control; and MEbot (Mobile Experiment robot). MEbot is a self-propelled or free-wheeling data logger incorporating sophisticated robotics that combine the power of simulation with the physical reality of a moving system. Phase II (not funded) would have begun a six course sequence leading to state certification. Laboratory sciences are not offered for distance learning because of the inability to do labs with only a computer. This research developed a technology to make quality science instruction available to nearly all teachers who need it.

Full proposal text [PDF]
Interim Report [PDF]
Final Report Executive Summary [PDF]