When Learning the Hard Way Makes Learning Easy: Building Better Lab Note-Taking Skills

Abstract

Students transitioning to inquiry-based laboratories are often initially reluctant to participate. Having to critically examine problems, share their insights with unfamiliar peers and instructors, and choose how to proceed can be daunting for many students. Their hesitancy is exacerbated by their uncertainty of the scientific principles involved. To ease their transition, students are presented with a lab that focuses on how to maintain an effective lab notebook. When confronted with the task of completing a fun, simple experiment using only the notes taken by their peers, they are quickly able to identify the flaws and deficiencies and are more comfortable discussing them. A final iteration of the experiment lets them work from a set of notes prepared with more care and they learn firsthand what is really required to maintain an effective lab notebook.