Student Laboratory Research Articles

Teaching labs for blind students: Equipment to measure the inertia of simple objects

This article describes a laboratory experiment for blind students to measure the moment of inertia of simple objects; in this case, that of a disc about its axis of symmetry. We adapted our usual lab to modify the data collection process, using an open-source electronic platform to convert visual signals into acoustic signals. This allowed blind students at our University to participate alongside their classmates in the mechanics lab.

Design and Research of a Virtual Laboratory for Coding Theory

This article examines the process of creating and researching a virtual laboratory for training students in coding theory. General information about the virtual laboratories is presented. A methodology for conducting comprehensive scientific research is presented, as well as a specialized method for designing and developing the virtual laboratory, including the system’s architecture. The article also presents brief information about the developed system. The results of the experimental research, including a pedagogical experiment aimed at evaluating the influence of the virtual laboratory on the students’ success rate, as well as an analysis of the statistical data on their activity, are discussed in detail. In addition, a survey was conducted to assess the satisfaction of students with the use of the laboratory.

Development of Static Fluid Demonstrators: Hydraulic Bridge to Improve Laboratory Skills

Abstract This research aims to develop a hydraulic bridge as a static fluid material prop. The development of these teaching aids focuses on improving students’ laboratory skills. This research is based on the need for students to have practical experience in the laboratory. This developed hydraulic bridge prop is expected to strengthen mastery of concepts in static fluid materials and improve students’ laboratory skills. The research method used is research and development with the resulting product in the form of hydraulic bridge props. Quantitative analysis techniques are used to measure the feasibility and effectiveness of teaching aids that have been developed, as well as to improve students’ laboratory skills. The results showed that the hydraulic bridge trainers that have been developed have excellent feasibility and effectiveness. The results showed a positive relationship between using hydraulic bridge props and improving student laboratory capabilities. The interactive nature of the developed teaching aids enhances technical abilities and fosters students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. This study concluded that the teaching aids in the form of hydraulic bridges that had been developed proved feasible and effective and were able to improve students’ laboratory skills. The implications of this research extend to curriculum improvement and advocating for the integration of practical teaching aids, such as hydraulic bridges, to optimize student learning outcomes. Future directions include improving the implementation of hydraulic bridges across engineering disciplines and conducting longitudinal studies to assess its long-term impact on student’s academic and professional development.

Development of Performance Assessment Instrument to Measure Students Laboratory Skills in Thermochemistry Practicum Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

This development research was conducted to produce a performance assessment instrument that is feasible to use to measure students' laboratory skills in thermochemical practicum activities for exotherm and endotherm reactions based on field investigations and literature reviews that have been completed. The feasibility of performance assessment instruments is reviewed on validity, reliability, and practicality. The type of research used is research and development (Research and Development) with the 4-D method. The validity data was obtained using a validation questionnaire from the validator's assessment. Reliability data was obtained from student laboratory skills scores from two assessors. Affectivity data is obtained from the educator response questionnaire filled out by educators after using the performance assessment instrument. The validity results showed that the aspects of the content component of the performance assessment instrument were declared valid, the presentation feasibility aspect was declared valid, the physical criteria aspect was declared valid, the illustration aspect was declared valid, and the language aspect was declared valid. Reliability results based on the inter-rater reliability analysis obtained a kappa coefficient 0.739 with excellent agreement. Practicality results based on educator responses that received a percentage of 100% with very good criteria. Based on the results of the performance assessment instrument's validity, reliability, and practicality, it is declared feasible to use it to measure the science process skills of students in the laboratory.

Assigned group work is associated with increased student motivation and perceptions of belonging in an asynchronous online physiology laboratory course.

With the rise of online instruction, a better understanding of the factors that contribute to belonging and motivation in these contexts is essential to creating optimal learning environments. Although group work is known to be beneficial to student success, few studies have investigated its role in the context of asynchronous online courses. The present study addresses this gap through a survey of 146 undergraduate students in an asynchronous online physiology lab over two semesters, one with required group work and one without group work. Students were surveyed to evaluate the influence of group work on their motivation and sense of belonging, as well as their perceptions of inclusive and exclusive features of the course. Students assigned to groups had a higher sense of belonging (P = 0.006) and beliefs about their competence (P = 0.002) and perceived lower effort and psychological costs associated with the course (P = 0.04 and 0.04, respectively) compared to students not assigned to groups. Students assigned to groups reported that peer interactions made them feel included in the course (70% of coded responses) while those not assigned to groups valued instructor interactions (51% of coded responses) as inclusive. Negative peer interactions were commonly reported as exclusive by students assigned to groups (28% of coded responses) while a lack of peer interactions (23% of coded responses) made students not assigned to groups feel excluded. These data indicate that assigning groups in asynchronous online courses is an effective way to increase student motivation and perceptions of belonging.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study explores the effect of assigned group work in an asynchronous online physiology laboratory course on student motivation and belonging. Students' perceptions of belonging and competence-related beliefs were higher, and effort and psychological costs were lower, when assigned to groups compared to students not assigned to groups. Students assigned to groups noted peer interactions as the most inclusive aspect of the course, whereas instructor interactions were noted as inclusive by those not assigned group work.

Nociception in Drosophila Larvae.

Nociception is the sensory modality by which animals sense stimuli associated with injury or potential tissue damage. When Drosophila larvae encounter a noxious thermal, chemical, or mechanical stimulus, they perform a stereotyped rolling behavior. These noxious stimuli are detected by polymodal nociceptor neurons that tile the larval epidermis. Although several types of sensory neurons feed into the nociceptive behavioral output, the highly branched class IV multidendritic arborization neurons are the most critical. At the molecular level, Drosophila nociception shares many conserved features with vertebrate nociception, making it a useful organism for medically relevant research in this area. Here, we review three larval assays for nociceptive behavior using mechanical stimuli, optogenetic activation, and the naturalistic stimuli of parasitoid wasp attacks. Together, the assays described have been successfully used by many laboratories in studies of the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms of nociception. In addition, the simple nature of the assays we describe can be useful in teaching laboratories for undergraduate students.

Development of Biology Virtual Laboratory

This paper describes the application of the development of a biology virtual laboratory which will enable students to conduct practicals as many times as they can with no cost in terms of laboratory apparatus and chemicals required for conducting their biology experiments. The development of science and technology, which is increasing fast, requires the world of education to improve the quality of education. Visualization and the conduct of laboratory experiments are the most effective ways to simplify and clarify the comprehension of complex theories. Virtual learning environments provide students with the opportunity to get a better understanding. The intention of this project is to develop a biology virtual laboratory for ordinary-level students that improves the learning achievements of students resulting in better performance, especially in many of the government schools where there is inadequate quality biology laboratories. The project aimed at eliminating constraints on traditional laboratories by coming up with a gaming-like android-based application system with visualization of biology practical for ordinary-level secondary schools mainly in food tests and classifications. Students are able to reconduct the experiments until they catch up with no cost of laboratory apparatus by using the game-like developed application.

Project Based Learning (PjBL) in Chemistry Learning: Systematic Literature and Bibliometric Review 2015 - 2022

Education is important to form an intelligent and competitive generation. Project Based Learning (PjBL) offers relevant and interactive learning, recognized by Grant (2002) as a student-centered model. PjBL creates a constructivist environment, developing content understanding and skills, such as communication, time management, research and critical thinking. This research focuses on the application of PjBL in chemistry learning, aiming to find out the results of previous research. This research uses Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and bibliometric review as methods. SLR is considered a systematic and transparent method of collecting, synthesizing and assessing study findings on a topic. The process includes planning (research identification), implementation (literature search and selection), and reporting (synthesis of findings). The research question (RQ) focuses on the application of Project Based Learning (PjBL) in chemistry learning. Twenty journals were selected, mostly from Scopus, with criteria ranging from 2015-2020. The analysis showed that 13 journals met the criteria, and a bibliometric review was then carried out on these journals. The research results show that PjBL focuses on skill development, learning innovation, and the impact on student understanding and participation. The research implications highlight the importance of the PjBL model to improve the learning process and better learning tools. The results revealed a wide variety of methods and samples. Six studies focused on the influence of PjBL, critical thinking abilities, psychomotor skills, problem solving, creativity, cognitive achievement, and teamwork. This framework generally involves students' innovative learning and laboratory experiments. Chemistry concepts include analytical, physical, environmental, basic, and organic chemistry. Data collection and analysis tools serve as benchmarks for future research and implications.

A Comparative Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Modified Peyton\'s and Halstead\'s Approach in Teaching Basic Airway Management Skills to Undergraduate Medical Students in Skills Lab

A Comparative Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Modified Peyton\'s and Halstead\'s Approach in Teaching Basic Airway Management Skills to Undergraduate Medical Students in Skills Lab

Ein experimentelles Mystery und ein Modellexperiment zur Ozeanversauerung – umgesetzt im Schülerlabor KOALa

Ein experimentelles Mystery und ein Modellexperiment zur Ozeanversauerung – umgesetzt im Schülerlabor KOALa

Analysis of the effectiveness of the methodology for designing a cloud-oriented distance learning environment for biology in informal education conditions

The article contains an analysis of research on the design of a cloud-oriented environment for distance learning of biology, teachers' experience in designing cloud-oriented environments contributes to the development of distance learning forms in general secondary education institutions and the widespread implementation of electronic tools in educational practice. When organizing distance learning in natural sciences, it is necessary to take into account the platform's capabilities and services for developing students' natural-science thinking, conducting observations, laboratory and practical experiments, implementing experimental tasks. The combination of cloud services and methods of distance learning in biology allows visualization of biological processes, the research-oriented nature of activities, organizing research projects on a single platform, using media resources, interactive simulators, integrating virtual content with the physical environment, and using programs for quality knowledge monitoring. The aim of the study is to develop a methodology for teachers to design a cloud-oriented educational environment for distance learning of biology for students in informal education conditions, testing its effectiveness based on the results of evaluation using a factor-criterion model, and developing recommendations for improving the qualifications of teachers in designing cloud-oriented environments in informal education conditions. Theoretical and empirical methods were applied to achieve the set goal, involving the study of previous research in the field of designing distance educational environments and the integration of cloud services into the educational process. Mathematical statistical methods were used to analyze the results of the survey of teachers from the focus group. The effectiveness of the developed methodology was tested using a factor-criterion model, which includes four factors: organizational, methodological, procedural, and content. Expert assessment of the effectiveness of the methodology revealed that the effectiveness of designing a cloud-oriented environment for distance learning of biology by biology teachers in general secondary education institutions, who participated in the focus group, is 0.79, indicating a high level

University students’ recognition of typical wave optics patterns

The recognition and distinction of typical interference and diffraction patterns are among the expected learning outcomes of studying wave optics. Previous studies have reported high school students’ difficulties with this task. In this study, we investigated university students’ ability to distinguish typical wave optics patterns obtained by the double slit, single slit, and diffraction grating. We also used eye tracking to obtain an insight into the distribution of students’ visual attention during the task. The results showed that university students had similar difficulties in recognizing wave optics patterns as high school students. They mostly struggled with identification of the double-slit interference patterns and diffraction grating patterns of monochromatic light while they were more successful in recognition of the diffraction pattern of white light on an optical grating and single-slit diffraction patterns. The eye-tracking data also revealed that students spent more time attending colourful than grey patterns in questions regarding diffraction of white light on an optical grating, thus suggesting that they were aware that the diffraction grating separates white light into colours. In questions regarding monochromatic light patterns, students overall mostly attended the single-slit diffraction pattern probably because of its distinct central maximum. Furthermore, the longer fixation duration for patterns compared to the text implies that students found it easier to extract information from the text than from the patterns. No prior research has compared the number of transitions during problem solving with the accuracy of the answers. In this study, we observed that students who incorrectly solved a task demonstrated a significantly higher number of gaze transitions between the question and the options, as well as among different options. The results of this study indicate that the recognition of typical wave optics patterns is also difficult for university students, thus suggesting that more attention should be paid to systematic observation and identification of key features of basic wave optics phenomena in lecture demonstrations and student laboratories.

Analysis of Students Chemistry Laboratory Literacy in High School

This research aims to identify the laboratory literacy level of SMA/MA students in Mataram City and describe laboratory literacy in 4 aspects: context, content, competence, and attitude, in carrying out practicums in the laboratory. Laboratory literacy measurement techniques through stages pre-lab to measure the ability of the content aspect, namely identifying knowledge initial or basic concepts that support practicum, subsequent stage lab work to measure context aspects, namely problem identification, analysis objectives, and principles of analytical methods for testing scientific ideas, and attitude aspects during practicum. Stagepost lab measuring competency aspects related to data analysis from practicum results as a basis for decision making. The research data was analyzed descriptively. Research results show that value. The average student laboratory literacy in the context and attitude aspects is high, namely 78.22 and 86.8, but for the content and competency aspects, it is still low, namely 54.26 and 54.15. The conclusions of this research are as follows: (1)Ability The average laboratory literacy of SMA/MA students in the city of Mataram is a category enough, namely 67.71. (2) The ability to apply chemistry to real-life problems (Chemical Literacy) can be improved by optimizing the use of laboratories as chemistry learning centers

Using attentional guidance methods in virtual reality laboratories reduces students’ cognitive load and improves their academic performance

Learning in virtual reality laboratories (VR labs) has become an important method in experimental teaching but can increase individuals’ cognitive load compared with traditional laboratories. This study analysed the effect of introducing an attentional guidance mechanism into a VR lab on students’ cognitive load and academic performance. We designed and developed two VR labs, one with and one without this attentional guidance stimulus (a 3D yellow arrow). A quasi-experimental design was adopted, and the data obtained were analysed using one-way ANOVA and linear regression. The experiment was conducted with 80 students majoring in digital media art at two universities. The results indicated that the students in the VR lab with the attentional guidance mechanism included exhibited lower cognitive load and higher academic performance than the control group. The regression analyses revealed that cognitive load negatively predicted learning outcomes; that is, academic performance improved as cognitive load decreased. In conclusion, as VR labs are increasingly used in education, supplementing them with attentional guidance stimuli can improve students’ academic performance by reducing their cognitive load.

A lab experiment on metals separation and recovery from waste ink-jet cartridges as a non-formal appealing learning activity for students of secondary schools

Abstract Since 2004, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), the Conference of Science and Technology Headmasters, and Confindustria, have been promoting the National Plan for Scientific Degrees (PLS) aimed at supporting students in acquiring scientific skills better responding to contemporary society challenges and increasing vocations in basic sciences. This paper describes a successful experience of the University of Cagliari together with selected local secondary schools, in which the hot topic of technological waste valorization was selected to create an orientation laboratory for students towards chemistry disciplines. Specifically, students and teachers were guided into the challenging world of e-waste production and treatment through the practical activity of noble metals recovery from real waste ink-jet cartridges. A specific emphasis was placed on fundamental chemical aspects – separation and recovery of metals driven by redox processes favored by a complexing agent – as well as on the chance to play on coordination chemistry to promote a green chemistry approach. The close collaboration between school and university teachers in planning and implementing laboratory activities is the element that characterizes PLS actions and promotes the development and strengthening of relations between secondary school and university courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Design of a Simple Isoteniscope for Use in a Student Laboratory for Measurements of Vapor Pressure of Liquids

Design of a Simple Isoteniscope for Use in a Student Laboratory for Measurements of Vapor Pressure of Liquids

Empowering Student Laboratory Safety Officer Programs to Strengthen Academic Safety Culture

Empowering Student Laboratory Safety Officer Programs to Strengthen Academic Safety Culture

Accurately Determining Labor Test Results Using the Rough Set Method

An exam is something that must be done to test a person's ability or intelligence. The laboratory exam in the Computer Systems study program at Putra Indonesia University "YPTK" Padang consists of a digital systems exam, a fuzzy logic control exam, and a tool presentation. The Labor Exam must be passed by students who will take the comprehensive exam. In this study, laboratory exam data was taken for 20 students. So far, processing of student laboratory exam results has been done manually so it takes a long time to make decisions. To overcome this problem, a Rough Set method is used to determine laboratory test results. The Rough Set method is part of machine learning. This research produces 29 rules as knowledge, namely {Digital System} Or {A} = 3 rules, {Fuzzy Logic} Or {B} = 3 rules, {Tool Presentation} Or {C} = 3 rules, {Fuzzy Logic, Tool Percentage} Or {BC} = 6 rules, {Digital System, Fuzzy Logic} Or {AB} = 6 rules and {Digital System, Tool Percentage} Or {AC} = 8 rules. The Rough Set method can determine student laboratory exam results (pass or fail) accurately.

XRF calibration with low-cost samples and implementation for quantification of inorganic elements in lipsticks

In this paper, the preparation of low-cost samples, for the calibration of an energy–dispersive X-ray fluorescence system is presented. The entire procedure is proposed as an undergraduate or postgraduate student laboratory activity, which aims to familiarize students with the procedure of calibration of a spectroscopy-based analytical method through the XRF technique. Furthermore, the use of XRF for the determination of elemental concentrations in samples related to students’ interests, was attempted.

Digitalchemlab─Digital and Complexity-Differentiated Learning Modules in an out of School Student Laboratory

<i>Digitalchemlab</i>─Digital and Complexity-Differentiated Learning Modules in an out of School Student Laboratory