How to Assess the Effectiveness of Lab Learning? Ignite Your Curiosity of Discovery !

Assessing Laboratory Learning The laboratory is a unique learning environment that enables and consolidates "learning through doing". Assessing this learning can enhance students' conceptual understanding of the theory-practice relationship, their higher-level reasoning skills and the development of their practical competence in laboratory work.

It is important that you clarify the specific objectives of the laboratory context for learning, for both students and assessors. These objectives should form the basis for all assessment decisions made. Learning outcomes that can be assessed using laboratory work include:

• technical and manipulative skills in using laboratory equipment, tools, materials and computer software

• an understanding of laboratory procedures, including health and safety, and scientific methods

• a deeper understanding of abstract concepts and theories gained by experiencing them as authentic phenomena

• the skills of scientific enquiry and problem-solving, including:

• recognising and defining a problem

• formulating hypotheses

• designing experiments

• collecting data through observation and/or experimentation

• interpreting data

• testing hypotheses

• drawing conclusions

• communicating processes and outcomes, and their implications.

• the complementary skills of collaborative learning and teamwork in laboratory settings

• understanding, and being prepared for, future possible roles in laboratory-based work.

When to use

Assessment by laboratory learning is appropriate in contexts such as:

• undergraduate and postgraduate coursework in which laboratory tasks are a key feature

• professional laboratory student placement programs (work-integrated learning)

• capstone courses in which students undertake major projects requiring laboratory-based work.

While laboratory learning is most strongly associated with science and engineering, many of the same concepts are relevant to other clinical disciplines, such as law, medicine, social work and psychology.

Benefits

Assessing laboratory learning shares some of the advantages of assessing authentic learning generally. Some of the benefits include that it:

• allows learners to extend and enhance their understanding of theoretical concepts by finding out how they operate in practical contexts

• gives learners self-confidence and a sense of achievement in successfully completing laboratory tasks

• provides opportunities for experiential learning through trial and error, which contributes to deeper understanding and reduces learner anxiety about making mistakes

•  fosters learners' development of critical and independent reasoning through practical training in hypothesis testing, data collection and analysis

• encourages the development of interpersonal skills such as teamwork, peer teaching, negotiation and collaboration

• provides a relatively informal and collegial learning environment that makes it easier for quiet or shy students to contribute to learning activities

• develops the acquisition of specific skills and capabilities required in workplace settings relevant to the discipline

• allows teaching staff more opportunities to monitor learners in person and provide assistance and feedback that is timely and thus more educationally effective

• rewards responsible and ethical behavior, such as following safety procedures, helping others, punctuality and generally being a cooperative and reliable classmate

• where laboratory task design is more open-ended and flexible:

• gives learners greater responsibility and autonomy in making decisions

• increases motivation by allowing learners to follow personal interests and use their creativity.