1. Transition time? Moving toward student center labs
Ana Fraiman
Northeastern Illinois University
UNITED STATES
NEIU STEM pedagogies. April 28, 2017

2. Changing the Laboratory Environment
Verification Labs
Research-based Labs
Collaboration
Coordination
Active exchange of ideas
Single session
Conducted individually or in pairs

3. Traditional labs in science do not achieve what we want our students to learn
Students work in pairs and submit individual lab reports
Follow a stepwise procedure
Expect certain results
No team work
Undergraduate students blindly follow “recipes” to achieve certain results
Do not understand the process. Fundamental principle behind the techniques or the conditions in which the experiment is done (process)
Traditional labs do not encourage critical thinking and collaboration at the undergraduate courses

4. What do we want our students to learn in a laboratory setting and in general?
Understand the process of discovery
Relate the material studied to external world
Make explicit connection among different subjects
Develop communication skills
Work in teams
We want our students to have an intellectual experience in higher education that is comprehensive, connected and not fragmented.

5. Implementation Difficult to coordinate larger groups of 6-8 students
Web 2.0 facilitated the increased need for community and collaboration within the new lab curriculum.
Introduction of Chem-Wiki
Chem-Wiki exposed the students to an exciting new application of technology that appears to be the future of online collaboration and the sharing of ideas. 

6. Laboratory
Chem-Wiki

7. Creation of Next Report
Traditionally the only feedback a student receives is after a report has been turned in…
Creation of Next Report
Grade Received
Creation of Report
Student Lab Report
Comments from Peers
Instructor Feedback
The Chem-Wiki format provides constant feedback from peers and the instructor.
This allows the instructor to guide the work in a given direction if a group seems to be getting off course.

8. Student Advantages Real-time feedback from peers and professor
Constantly add and edit information
Access sources easily with hyperlinks
Community free of time and space

9. Strong mentor relationship with students Enhanced Classroom Community
Professor Advantages
Strong mentor relationship with students
Enhanced Classroom Community
Information added can be tracked by individuals

10. Extending Beyond Lab Reporting
Homepage contains syllabus, helpful links and course announcements.
Users can post discussions pertaining to any part of the class. 

11. Imagine the Possibilities…
Education
Industry
Beyond
Business
Virtual Teaming
Create new work
Enhance existing work
Free of time and space
Collaborative Tools
Connect ideas, talents and resources
Provide networks for sharing and innovating
“This is a space that many of us will meet in ways we cannot yet know. I hope to see you there.” Curtis J. Bonk, The World is Open

12. QUESTIONS
COMMENTS