Polyhedron Learning Media Inc., a Wheeling company specializing in multimedia software development for education markets, hopes its virtual physics lab for college students will be just the first in a long line of marketing successes.

The company has been awarded a $760,000 contract to develop an online introductory physics labs through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

Incorporated in 2004, Polyhedron previously had received an SBIR Phase I contract to develop a prototype set of online labs for use by college students taking introductory physics classes. Once Polyhedron had demonstrated the technical merit of its work, the company was eligible to apply for Phase II funding for research and development purposes.

Polyhedron President Jeanne Finstein called the virtual lab a "smart use" of technology.

"Our goal is that when we finish, we end up with the virtual lab for the entire one-year introductory physics course at the college level," she said. "These will be available online through Thomson Learning, one of the main publishers of college level science textbooks. Ultimately, the college students would use these labs either as a supplement or a replacement for the hands-on labs that typically accompany an introductory physics course."

Polyhedron was conceived in 2004, the brainchild of three highly educated professionals who'd worked together off-and-on for more than a decade before finding themselves out of work.

Finstein, who has a doctorate in education, doubles as Polyhedron's director of development. John Baro, who also has a doctoral degree, is director of software development and his wife, Rhonda, is a graphics specialist and the company's creative director.

Rhonda Baro's brother, Robert Sellers, a retired U.S. Air Force test pilot with a bachelor's degree in physics and math and a master's degree in aerospace engineering, is its science content specialist.

"What we are doing is developing simulations that can be manipulated by the student to gather realistic data, the same as would occur if they were using hands-on equipment," Finstein said.

While students won't be able to actually touch the equipment -- admittedly a disadvantage -- Finstein said there also are significant advantages to the online lab, not least of which is the cost factor: Virtual labs will reduce a school's cash outlay for equipping and manning labs, no small achievement given the 500,000 students nationwide who Thomson Learning estimates take introductory physics every year.

Finstein said the online lab also would enable students to take the course as a distance learning option -- particularly useful in the case of elementary and secondary teachers looking to teach physics or incorporate basic principles into other classes who need the flexibility a distance learning option provides.

"Students also will be able to repeat the experiments as often as they want to verify their results, and become more comfortable with the procedure," she added. "And (they'll) be able to try different parameters that they wouldn't necessarily have time to do in a hands-on lab."

The virtual lab includes all instructions, evaluation quizzes and, for more difficult experiments, a video component showing a person using the actual equipment in addition to the simulated experiment.

If all goes as planned, at the end of the two-year Phase II contract period she said the company will be able to expand into other subject areas such as chemistry, math and history as needed.

"That's why we're so excited," Finstein said. "Apparently they agree with our plan, that's why we got Phase II."

Finstein said the company is "open to anything" in terms of content because they use outside experts to provide additional expertise. For the Phase II of the virtual physics lab, that added expertise comes from physics professors at Auburn University, Marquette University and Angelo State University in Texas.

They also have external evaluators -- one at West Virginia University, the other at Fairmont State University -- who are assisting them. Thomson Learning, meanwhile, will market the product when it is completed in two years.

Finstein pointed out Polyhedron previously partnered with other organizations to complete a space exhibit for the Children's Museum of the Ohio Valley and to develop multimedia software for the NASA Explorer Schools program. The company also published two books -- "Walking Pleasant Valley" and "Verses from the Hills."

But the Phase II SBIR contract "is our largest award," she noted, "and the one that has the most potential for future growth of our company. We're thrilled."