Event Details

The next chemistry department seminar may be of particular interest to those who teach, and support/research teaching, in lab settings.

Dr Smita Odedra, senior lecturer, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow

"Understanding student transitions & adopting technology-enhanced learning approaches for undergraduate chemistry laboratories"

Hands-on experiments are an essential part of the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. However, learning through laboratory classes can be challenging for a multitude of reasons. In this talk, I will present findings from two related studies focused on improving the lab learning experience by supporting student transitions through the creation of bespoke pre-lab guides.

The transition into first year of higher education can be challenging for many students. Anxiety in new teaching environments is prevalent across all subjects, especially those requiring practical/clinical work or the use of unfamiliar equipment – and in the case of Chemistry, the laboratory environment can be particularly overwhelming. This can be a daunting experience, leading to heightened stress and a diminished learning gains. In addition to the multiple pressures of working in an unfamiliar environment, some students are affected by the sensory and social aspects of the laboratory. We have explored the factors impacting levels of confidence, stress and anxiety in our first-year lab and investigated the impact of cognitive, sensory and social load on the student lab experience.

Guided by our findings, we have designed and created novel pre-lab e-resources to help ease students’ transitions into our lab by allowing students to virtually explore the lab before they even set foot in it. By employing a staff-student partnership model in these projects and using a multimedia approach for technology-enhanced learning, we have created targeted, relatable and relevant learning resources for our cohorts. Along with a demonstration of one of our e-resources, I will share evaluation results of the impact of these on the student experience.