Transition time? Moving toward student center labs Ana Fraiman Northeastern Illinois University UNITED STATES NEIU STEM pedagogies. April 28, 2017

Changing the Laboratory Environment Verification Labs Research-based Labs Collaboration Coordination Active exchange of ideas Single session Conducted individually or in pairs

Traditional labs in science do not achieve what we want our students to learn Students work in pairs and submit individual lab reports Follow a stepwise procedure Expect certain results No team work Undergraduate students blindly follow “recipes” to achieve certain results Do not understand the process. Fundamental principle behind the techniques or the conditions in which the experiment is done (process) Traditional labs do not encourage critical thinking and collaboration at the undergraduate courses

What do we want our students to learn in a laboratory setting and in general? Understand the process of discovery Relate the material studied to external world Make explicit connection among different subjects Develop communication skills Work in teams We want our students to have an intellectual experience in higher education that is comprehensive, connected and not fragmented.

Implementation Difficult to coordinate larger groups of 6-8 students Web 2.0 facilitated the increased need for community and collaboration within the new lab curriculum. Introduction of Chem-Wiki Chem-Wiki exposed the students to an exciting new application of technology that appears to be the future of online collaboration and the sharing of ideas. 

Laboratory Chem-Wiki

Creation of Next Report Traditionally the only feedback a student receives is after a report has been turned in… Creation of Next Report Grade Received Creation of Report Student Lab Report Comments from Peers Instructor Feedback The Chem-Wiki format provides constant feedback from peers and the instructor. This allows the instructor to guide the work in a given direction if a group seems to be getting off course.

Student Advantages Real-time feedback from peers and professor Constantly add and edit information Access sources easily with hyperlinks Community free of time and space

Strong mentor relationship with students Enhanced Classroom Community Professor Advantages Strong mentor relationship with students Enhanced Classroom Community Information added can be tracked by individuals

Extending Beyond Lab Reporting Homepage contains syllabus, helpful links and course announcements. Users can post discussions pertaining to any part of the class. 

Imagine the Possibilities… Education Industry Beyond Business Virtual Teaming Create new work Enhance existing work Free of time and space Collaborative Tools Connect ideas, talents and resources Provide networks for sharing and innovating “This is a space that many of us will meet in ways we cannot yet know. I hope to see you there.” Curtis J. Bonk, The World is Open

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