IMPROVING STUDENT CONFIDENCE IN THE

LAB

Dr Gemma Lace-Costigan

Teaching Problem

Photo by Capture Queen available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uaeincredible/217849066/

Factors contributing to reduced confidence in the lab

Produced at www.wordle.net

Authors personal photography

Authors personal photography

Role for computer assisted learning in boosting student confidence (Gibbons et al, 2004, Hughes 2001)

Giving students CHOICE and CONTROL increases confidence and satisfaction (Brauber et al, 2007)

Confident learning

Promoting independence and responsibility promotes confident learning (USDHH, 2012)

Authors own photography

• Low confidence potentially due to:

- Intimidating environment

- Unfamiliar equipment

- New skills

Project development

• Provide preparatory resources to expose students to new environment/equipment/skills BEFORE class

• Choice & controlof how to prepare for class

The project

Methods- To use the VLE to present ~ 80 L4 Biomedical Science students with a choice of digital resources within a digital lab guide (DLG) including videos, educational games, podcasts, interactive tutorials etc- To develop the DLG according to student feedback- To assess the impact of DLG use on student confidence

AIM: To use a learning technology to give students access to digital learning materials PRIOR to lab classes to promote confident experiential learning

The Digital Lab Guide

Phase 1 & 2 Development of the DLG using student feedback from questionnaires

Project breakdown

• Phase 1 (Semester 1 2012)

- 1st practical session: Non-directed use of DLG promoted- 3rd December: VLE stats of DLG use downloaded- 4th December: 1st Questionnaire distribution

ConfidenceDeveloped using Frary Guidelines (1996)

Development of DLG

Current preparation methods

Basic demographic data (age group, sex, UK/international student)

Phase 1 & 2 Development of the DLG using student feedback from questionnaires

Project breakdown

• Phase 2 (Semester 2 2012)

- 1st practical: Directed use of DLG promoted- Weekly emails & Tweets signposting to resources - 2nd questionnaire distributed with MEQ’s end of S2

Confidence

Development of DLGCurrent preparation methods

Basic demographic data (age group, sex, UK/international student)

Utility of resources

Future resource preference

Student learning styles??

Phase 3 (Summer 2013): Development of DLG and creation of OER in line with student feedback, ethics application development & submissionPhase 4 (Semester 1 & 2 2013):Repeat of phase 1 with newly developed DLG & refined questionnaire assessing impact of DLG use on student confidence and satisfaction

The next phase………..

Results……

Photo by W Mohamad Soo available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wansoo/4845083954/

UKPSF

References• All images used were either my own personal photography or creative commons licenced images accessible at

www.flickr.com

• Frary, Robert B. (1996). Hints for designing effective questionnaires. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 5(3). Available at http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=5&n=3 last accessed 26/11/12

• Gibbons, N, Evans, C, Payne, A, Shah K, Griffin D, 2004. Computer Simulations Improve University Instructional Laboratories. Cell biology Education. Vol3 no 4 p263-269

• Hughes, I, E. Alternatives to laboratory practicals - Do they meet the needs? Available at http://apps.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.doUT=000167679900002&locale=en_US&IsProductCode=Yes&mode=FullRecord&product=WOS&SID=P1PFa3gk%40mJElkhLJJI&Alias=WOK5&SrcApp=Wiley_Online_Library&action=retrieve&Init=Yes&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&customersID=LinksAMR&Func=Frame Last accessed 14/11/12

• US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHH), 2012, http://bblocks.samhsa.gov/educators/lesson_plans/buildingselfconfidence.aspx last accessed 14/11/12 Date accessed 6th November

Questions?