North Island College鈥檚 Remote Web-Based Science Lab (RWSL) is one of the best online innovations in the world, according to one of the most prestigious business schools in the United States.
The University of Pennsylvania has shortlisted RWSL as one of the top 12 finalists for a Reimagine Education Award at the Wharton School of Business.
鈥淔orbes ranks the Wharton School of Business as the fourth best business school in America, behind only Stanford, Chicago and Harvard,鈥� said Randall Heidt, NIC鈥檚 new vice-president of strategic initiatives. 鈥淛ust being among the finalists at an event at the world鈥檚 first collegiate business school is very prestigious and NIC is honoured to be in the top 12.鈥�
More than 400 universities, businesses and educators from 43 countries applied for the Wharton - QS Stars Reimagine Education Awards, which offers a $50,000 U.S. prize fund to the winning entries. The award acknowledges educators and ideas that enrich how the world delivers education. Judges include executives from Google, Amazon, Cisco Systems and IBM as well as university and college presidents from around the world.
鈥淭he work that Albert Balbon has done to create RWSL is ahead of its time,鈥� Heidt said. 鈥淎lbert is a true innovator in the field of post-secondary online education and we are honoured to have him as part of the NIC team and leading this project.鈥�
The RWSL gives any student with an Internet connection access to hands-on lab experiments in real time. Students can manipulate lasers, high-powered microscopes, electrons, spectrometers and more during 25 different lab experiments.
Balbon initially invented the RWSL 10 years ago to offer hands-on science labs for an NIC instructor in Bella Bella. Since then, Balbon has presented the technology to the White House and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, shared programming with the European Space Agency and NASA, and received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Consortium of Health Employers Online.
鈥淭he RWSL already brings science experiments into the homes and classrooms of students across North America,鈥� Heidt said. 鈥淏ut what if Reimagine Education and the RWSL is made available to students throughout the world, even in countries with limited broadband Internet?鈥�
Heidt, who started in November, said he is amazed by the impressive list of applied research, automation and e-learning innovation taking place at NIC.
鈥淲e are always looking for businesses, other post-secondary institutions, individuals and countries who would like to invest in the RWSL and other projects at NIC.鈥�
For more info, visit http://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/ and http://reimagine-education.com/
