Air-Lab

What is the AirLab?
The IRML-AirLab is an affordable, inflatable, open-access educational toolkit developed by the Interactive Research Methods Lab in the Bagwell College of Education, Kennesaw State University. This innovative toolkit is designed to make Research Literacy Accessible for all students. The IRML-AirLab, transforms any high school classroom into an engaging, interactive space where students can explore and understand the fundamentals of research through the responsive use of semantic AI resources. This innovative adaptation makes learning research methods accessible and captivating for high school students. By disrupting traditional teaching approaches, the AirLab fosters an experiential, hands-on environment that sparks curiosity and enthusiasm for the scientific process. 

The IRML-AirLab leverages cutting-edge interactive resources from Hopscotch 4-AP Research and an AI-powered web app , both developed by our team. These tools provide personalized, engaging learning experiences, empowering high school students to enhance their research literacy skills, build confidence in research methodologies, and prepare for college success.

How does the IRML-AirLab work?
High school students can pick any topic that sparks their curiosity. Air-Lab helps them build a rock-solid research plan around it, all while helping them learn the secrets of researching like a pro.

The AirLab, uses a recursive 9-step system based on the Hopscotch Model (think of it as a research map) (Jorrín-Abellán, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). With their phone or tablet, students launch an AI-based web app, and scan QR codes on each step/face of the inflatable Air-Lab. Each scan unlocks interactive resources, including semantic AI tools that guide them through the research process and ask questions they will need engage with critically. They can then jot down their ideas directly on Air-Lab's writable surface with a dry-erase marker, scan their ideas and the web app will automatically turn their handwritten notes into typed text. The app then turns the provided responses into a full research design in pdf format. Students and their teachers can revise, refine and update their design as much as they need.