In the vast shift to online teaching caused by the new coronavirus, one of the most common questions raised was: But what about lab classes? Is it even possible to move a lab course quickly online and still meet your learning objectives?
I have been teaching exclusively online for five years now, and have created and revised several online laboratory courses myself. Now, as the lead faculty member in natural and physical sciences at Colorado State University Global, I oversee the development of online lab courses. The short answer to this very big question is: yes, for many lab classes, it is possible. It comes down to modifying learning objectives and finding the right resources. You can’t bring a nuclear reactor into the home, but you can simulate it; you wouldn’t want students working with a disease sample at home, but they could use a simulation.
In the difficult weeks ahead, your goal will be to deliver clear instructions to your students and create labs they can perform without a teacher present, while reducing technical glitches. We already have ways to teach a lab online, but if you’ve never used them before, they may seem intimidating — especially at a time when everyone is feeling stressed by our global health crisis.
What follows is a quick primer on how to shift a lab course online. First, a look at the three kinds of labs you can offer via technology:
Instructor-created labs. You may be able to modify a previously planned lab so that students can perform it at home. Or, due to limited resources, the better option might be creating a new lab from scratch. So first consider the resources available to your students now, and what they may be able to purchase. Citizen science on iNaturalist and Zooniverse have great projects that allow students to gather and sort data, and can be transformed into labs as well.
Keep in mind: Students do not always purchase the required lab materials in a timely manner. In addition, they may not have access to some materials if their local stores sell out of supplies. Focus on supplies in the home if you can.
- Pros: Teacher-created labs may allow you to better meet your learning objectives for the course. Likewise, you can control the instructions for the lab and post them in your institution’s learning-management system.
- Cons: Problems may include students not purchasing the lab materials or not having access to them. If the lab is not easy to perform in the home, you may face a lot of time revising it to meet learning objectives. Lab creation takes time.
Lab kits. Companies, such as Hands-On Labs and eScience Labs, provide assembled kits and host predesigned labs on their own online platforms. Both companies report being able to have the online platform ready for students within 48 hours, with the kits arriving shortly afterward. Other companies, like Carolina, allow you to assemble a kit for a lab you’ve designed and then have students purchase the kit. If you have a lab that could be performed at home and students just need supplies, this is a great option.
- Pros: In-home labs are a good learning experience. Require students to take a picture of their results — with a notecard in the shot that has their name and date on it — to help verify that they performed the lab.
- Cons: The kits can be expensive. Glitches can occur with obtaining access to the lab instructions. Ideally, you can post those instructions in the campus learning-management system. I’ve found lab companies to be very responsive in helping students obtain access as well. Issues may occur with students not purchasing the kit. If possible, have your institution order the kits and send them to students. This is a good option when lab fees have already been collected. Otherwise, post information about ordering the kit as early as possible so students have plenty of time to receive it before they need it.