Investing in laboratory and field experiences in support of undergraduate science teaching
- 1. Investing in Laboratory and Field Experiences in support of Undergraduate Science Education by William (Bill) Siebold 1
- 2. ● Buying cool stuff doesn’t necessarily mean that teaching & learning are improved or that you will move the needle on key course, program or institutional metrics. ● Not having cool stuff doesn’t necessarily mean that great teaching & learning will not happen or that key course, program or institutional metrics will suffer. ● Stuff doesn’t always have to be expensive. ● Not having essential stuff is a challenge for teaching & learning as well as key course, program or institutional metrics.
- 3. ● Start with practice. Where do you want it to go? ● Create a strategic plan for the evolution of practice. ● In that strategic plan, account for the investment for phased acquisition of equipment & resources to support it.
- 4. ● directly support best pedagogical practices ● integrate effectively with course, program and institutional outcomes ● stimulate an evolution in teaching practice
- 5. Game-based virtual environments (VR) Interactive Computer Simulations Laboratory Experiences Field Experiences Classroom Environment Multiple Environments & Modalities of instructional delivery supporting the teaching & learning of science
- 6. Game-based virtual environments (VR) Interactive Computer Simulations Laboratory Experiences Field Experiences Classroom Environment Multiple Modalities should be COMPLEMENTARY (not supplementary)
- 7. Education that transcends the classroom into multiple environments and modalities: (When your practice is sound) ● Results in enhanced student learning outcomes ● Increases the likelihood of obtaining a degree ● Shows improvement in retention of historically underrepresented students Elrod, S., J. Kinzie, D. Husic. 2010. Research and Discovery Across the Curriculum. PeerReview vol 12, no. 2.
- 8. Laboratory Experiences Field Experiences Should be in practice: ● Integrative with other modalities ● Complementary (adding value to overall learning experience) ● Iterative with appropriate feedback and response ● Concrete & hands-on with real-time reflection ● Stimulates the creation of great questions ● Makes meaning ● Demands observation, speculation and testing ● Establishs theory / hypothesis and further strategy ● Promotes both collaboration and independent action
- 9. Laboratory Experiences Field Experiences Should be in practice: ● Research-based (not recipe-based) ● Team-based but with independent accountability and opportunity ● Focused on ownership and accountability ● An enduring experience leading to durable learning ● A process of linking reasoning with intuition ● A process of linking analysis with judgment