Practical Laboratory Work Research Articles

Development of Programmable Integrated Circuit (PIC) Module with Multiple Outputs for Students Psychomotor Skill Enhancement

Programmable Integrated Circuit (PIC) module for educational purposes is developed based on the existing unsatisfactory PIC simulation which is not able to achieve the objective and learning outcome in enhancing the student’s psychomotor aspect through circuit designing, installation and trouble shooting. The existing PIC programming through computer simulation, which students facing difficulty in observing and understanding the wiring assembly between the input module, PIC microcontroller and output modules. The development of PIC module has been designed and improved by increasing the number of output components,cost reduction and it is also user friendly. Furthermore, this PIC module is embedded with I/O module such as normally open push buttons, 12VDC motor, servomotor, LEDs light, LCD display, and seven-segment display. Newly developed PIC module can be programme and re-programme for various tasks. Based on students Lab Practical Assessment record, there is an average of 39% and 22% of improvement on knowledge and psychomotor skill respectively when students used newly developed PIC modules for laboratory practical work.

Practical Bioremediation Course – Laboratory Exercises on Biodegradation of Cationic Surfactant

From the perspective of the lab exercises leader and teaching assistant for the Bioremediation course, it was very difficult to design and conduct a set of exercises that would fit the course curriculum and satisfactorily demonstrate bioremediation basics through practical laboratory work. Thus, Bioremediation course students designed the experiment with the help of the teaching assistant; a simulation of possible bioremediation of “Jarun” lake in Zagreb, Croatia, if contaminated with cationic surfactant. The experiment nicely showed how natural bioremediation differs from engineered bioremediation and the levels of success between different types of engineered bioremediation. The laboratory exercises were designed to be interesting and the results perceivable to the students. Editor's Note: The ASM advocates that students must successfully demonstrate the ability to explain and practice safe laboratory techniques. For more information, read the laboratory safety section of the ASM Curriculum Recommendations: Introductory Course in Microbiology and the Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories, available at www.asm.org. The Editors of JMBE recommend that adopters of the protocols included in this article follow a minimum of Biosafety Level 2 practices.

Design Rules for Solar Cells with Plated Metallization

Abstract This work deals with requirements regarding the solar cell process that allow or facilitate the introduction of fabrication processes for front side metallization. By taking experience with plating on solar cells both from the literature and from practical lab work, design rules for the solar cell and the plating process have been derived. Regarding the surface texture, small features (e.g., random pyramids 2 result in a good adhesion of the seed layer on the silicon surface. Further the glass content in the silver paste and the size of the glass particles have a big influence on the adhesion. A high glass content and small particles are beneficial for a following plating process. For direct plating on silicon an ablation of the ARC with a 355 nm ps-laser is the best option for adhesion.

LaboREM—A Remote Laboratory for Game-Like Training in Electronics

The advances in communication networks and web technologies, in conjunction with the improved connectivity of test and measurement devices make it possible to implement e-learning applications that encompass the whole learning process. In the field of electrical engineering, automation or mechatronics, it means not only lectures, tutorials, demos and simulations, but also practical labwork for training with real-world devices that are controlled remotely. To make e-labs attractive, they should be easily implemented and accessed on the web by a client. This keypoint raises technical issues that are recalled in this paper. Nonetheless pedagogical issues are equally important. The benefit of a remote lab must be evaluated and compared to simulation labs or hands-on. Here, to foster student motivation, a game-like scenario embedded in a learning management system is proposed.

Telepresence in Education

New developments of information and media technologies in the evolving landscape of higher education provide efficient and effective training opportunities in higher education. This paper presents a model in new forms of active and collaborative learning that expands the learning environment by using the internet and offering students over telepresence a virtual window on the practical laboratory work in the “High Precision Measuring Room and Nanometrology Laboratory” at the Vienna University of Technology. Establishing requirements of high quality in the education and for related personnel are the fundamentals of this study by establishing a cost-effective project, which enables remote-laboratory operations with an integrated quality management system without any border of working partners. This on-going project is proposed as the example of a global solution to develop a cost-effective approach in education quality not only in Europe but also globally.

Developing High Performance Computing Resources for Teaching Cluster and Grid Computing Courses

Abstract High-Performance Computing (HPC) and the ability to process large amounts of data are of paramount importance for UK business and economy as outlined by Rt Hon David Willetts MP at the HPC and Big Data conference in February 2014. However there is a shortage of skills and available training in HPC to prepare and expand the workforce for the HPC and Big Data research and development. Currently, HPC skills are acquired mainly by students and staff taking part in HPC-related research projects, MSc courses, and at the dedicated training centres such as Edinburgh Universitys EPCC. There are few UK universities teaching the HPC, Clusters and Grid Computing courses at the undergraduate level. To address the issue of skills shortages in the HPC it is essential to provide teaching and training as part of both postgraduate and undergraduate courses. The design and development of such courses is challenging since the technologies and software in the fields of large scale distributed systems such as Cluster, Cloud and Grid computing are undergoing continuous change. The students completing the HPC courses should be proficient in these evolving technologies and equipped with practical and theoretical skills for future jobs in this fast developing area. In this paper we present our experience in developing the HPC, Cluster and Grid modules including a review of existing HPC courses offered at the UK universities. The topics covered in the modules are described, as well as the coursework project based on practical laboratory work. We conclude with an evaluation based on our experience over the last ten years in developing and delivering the HPC modules on the undergraduate courses, with suggestions for future work.

Electronic resource “Electrotechnics” as a tool of students’ educational activity management

The variety of the ways to manage educational activities of studentscharacterizes the present state of the educational thought development.According to the different authors’ propositions there are the followingmethods of this aim achievement: the structuring of educational information,the new forms of knowledge representation, the programmingof training activities, and different types of educational assessment.The electronic resource “Electrotechnics with Fundamental of IndustryElectronics” uses new methods for management of the students’ trainingactivities, such as hard feedback technology, a new form of didactic system,new ways of interaction between theoretical and practical materialin laboratory work. This electronic resource has been created on basis ofa teaching of the electrotechnics in Poland.The electronic resource developed and implemented a number ofimportant didactic principles: the principle of scientificity of knowledgeis implemented through actualized information about the methods ofa current measuring, description of a modern point of light sources andmodern magnetic materials; the principle of visibility was implementedthrough the introduction of links to online video resources; the principleof differentiation of learning has been implemented with a special form offeedback between students and the educational system – the proposeddifferentiation consist in the ways of the problem solving and not in thedifferentiation of the subject complexity, as previously. Thus, the use ofthe MOODLE platform with additional programming modules allows creationof a new type of electronic resource for distance learning.

A Low Cost Implementation of an Existing Hands-on Laboratory Experiment in Electronic Engineering

In engineering the pedagogical content of most formative programmes includes a significant amount of practical laboratory hands-on activity designed to deliver knowledge acquisition from actual experience alongside traditional face-to-face classroom based lectures and tutorials; this hands-on aspect is not always adequately addressed by current e-learning platforms.
 An innovative approach to e-learning in engineering, named computer aided engineering education (CAEE) is about the use of computer aids for the enhanced, interactive delivery of educational materials in different fields of engineering through two separate but related components; one for classroom and another for practical hands-on laboratory work. The component for hands-on laboratory practical work focuses on the use of mixed reality (video-based augmented reality) tools on mobile devices/platforms. 
 This paper presents the computer aided engineering education (CAEE) implementation of a laboratory experiment in micro-electronics that highlights some features such as the ability to closely implement an existing laboratory based hands-on experiment with lower associated costs and the ability to conduct the experiment off-line while maintaining existing pedagogical contents and standards.

Análisis de las discusiones de los estudiantes en una clase de laboratorio sobre el equilibrio químico

This work studies the discussions from students in their first year of two university careers while carrying out a practical laboratory work about chemical equilibrium. The arguments constructed by the students are analyzed when they connect the experimental data and the observations with the chemical knowledge they possess. Group work was recorded in audio and videotape when students developed the laboratory class; the argumentative pattern of Toulmin was used as the instrument of analysis. One of the most relevant aspects of the classes under analysis is that students’ discussions are rare during the development of the laboratory work; on the other hand, students do not make the notion of system in equilibrium they are elaborating explicit. It can be concluded that, in general, the development of the practical laboratory work did not make the appropriate contributions to the fact that students should develop a more thorough conceptualization about what a system in chemical equilibrium is.

The Comprehension of the Period Check of Lab Instruments

In order to maintain the instruments calibration state in the process of use, they shall be carried out the period inspection. From the point of view of practical lab work, this article explains the necessity and usual methods of the test work in lab in the period inspection.

Experiences from iPad use at Olari School and High School and in chemistry education

In autumn 2011, a pilot project was launched at Olari School and High School the aim of which was to implement and utilize tablets in high school education and evaluation. Apple iPads were chosen as the used tablets. At first, few teachers and the principal were in charge of the pilot project and eventually the project expanded and in spring 2013 there were 90 tablets for student use and every teacher had one’s personal tablet.
 The impact of tablets on learning and pedagogical solutions has been significant. The positive aspects of iPad use include their portability and use potential during for example excursions and school trips. They serve as good tools in project work due to the simplicity of information search and data saving. Also, photos of teaching and practical laboratory work, for example, can be saved using iPad. Occasionally, the limitations to wireless network and other technical difficulties have discouraged the users. For teachers, the utilization of iPads has meant that plenty of extra time has been consumed on education and development of new practices. The cost of applications limits their accessibility on shared tablets. For now, there are so few Finnish-language applets for the teaching of different subjects that their benefits are not necessarily significant. However, the biggest challenge is the lack of time.
 In chemistry teaching, iPads have been used in several ways. Different programs and applications have been used in projects, essays, and reporting on laboratory work. Electronic Fronter learning platform can be used with iPads, also microcomputer-based laboratory equipment by Pasco can be connected to iPad while, for example, measuring pH.

Anisakis simplex infection in mackerel: a reliable laboratory exercise to demonstrate important principles in parasitology to undergraduates

Practical laboratory work in parasitology can be very limited, due to the difficulty in maintaining multi-host parasite life cycles, especially for a large, once-yearly undergraduate laboratory class for life science students. The use of mackerel, Scomber scombrus, bought from a local fishmonger, is an ideal model to investigate important parameters of infection with the nematode worm, Anisakis simplex. This simple experiment, involving nothing more than measurements, dissection and observation, yields reliable data to demonstrate the principles of the intensity, prevalence and overdispersion of infection, and allows statistical analysis of any variation in these parameters in relation to the weight and sex of the fish host.

Between Laboratory and Institution: Practice as Research in No Man's Land

Is practical performance laboratory work feasible within an institutional academic setting? The possibilities for practice as research in contemporary academia is examined through an ongoing research project that focuses on the area between training and performance.

Problem based project on university teaching of atom spectrometric methods

Practical laboratory work is an essential part of the teaching of analytical chemistry. During the assignments, the routine of laboratory work is taught, theory from the lectures is given a concrete form, and the basic skills of using laboratory equipment are acquired. During laboratory work, it is also possible to develop student interaction and problem solving skills.
 In this research, it was studied how a project work following the principles of problem based learning can be implemented during a tight-scheduled lecture course on atom spectrometric methods. The research pays particular attention on the evaluation of work burden and choosing of the project topics. In addition, the research examines the effects of project work on motivation and learning in students. According to this research, the chosen project topics and project as a working method are suitable to be implemented with a lecture course. The students found the project work to be burdensome but had positive attitudes towards the working method as a whole.

Library Preparation and Multiplex Capture for Massive Parallel Sequencing Applications Made Efficient and Easy

During the recent years, rapid development of sequencing technologies and a competitive market has enabled researchers to perform massive sequencing projects at a reasonable cost. As the price for the actual sequencing reactions drops, enabling more samples to be sequenced, the relative price for preparing libraries gets larger and the practical laboratory work becomes complex and tedious. We present a cost-effective strategy for simplified library preparation compatible with both whole genome- and targeted sequencing experiments. An optimized enzyme composition and reaction buffer reduces the number of required clean-up steps and allows for usage of bulk enzymes which makes the whole process cheap, efficient and simple. We also present a two-tagging strategy, which allows for multiplex sequencing of targeted regions. To prove our concept, we have prepared libraries for low-pass sequencing from 100 ng DNA, performed 2-, 4- and 8-plex exome capture and a 96-plex capture of a 500 kb region. In all samples we see a high concordance (>99.4%) of SNP calls when comparing to commercially available SNP-chip platforms.

Application of the antibiotic batumin for accurate and rapid identification of staphylococcal small colony variants

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen causing significant morbidity and mortality. The S. aureus colonies in osteomyelitis, in patients with cystic fibrosis and patients with endoprosthesis rejection frequently have an atypical morphology, i.e. staphylococcal small-colony variants, which form a naturally occurring subpopulation of clinically important staphylococci. Identification of these small colony variants is difficult, because of the loss of typical phenotypic characteristics of these variants.We wanted to improve and simplify the diagnosis of staphylococcal infection using a diagnostic preparation, consisting of 5 μg batumin paper disks. Batumin possesses a unique selective activity against all studied Staphylococcus spp., whereas all other species tested thus far are batumin resistant. We assessed the efficacy of the batumin diagnostic preparation to identify staphylococcal small colony variants, isolated from osteomyelitis patients.FindingsWith the batumin diagnostic preparation, all 30 tested staphylococcal small-colony variants had a growth inhibition zone around the disk of minimum 25 mm, accordant with the inhibition zones of the parent strains, isolated from the same patients.ConclusionsThe batumin diagnostic preparation correctly identified the small-colony variants of S. aureus, S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis as belonging to the genus Staphylococcus, which differ profoundly from parental strains and are difficult to identify with standard methods. Identification of staphylococcal small-colony variants with the batumin diagnostic preparation is technically simple and can facilitate practical laboratory work.

The Level of Impact on Student Success of Participation in Lectures and Laboratory Exercises

Student success in exams is interlinked with different factors. More affecting factors include prior knowledge level that is gained during his/her previous studies, available infrastructure, especially when it comes to studies that require the use of laboratory equipment. In addition, higher student success, regarding acquisition of knowledge, relates directly to active participation in lectures and labs. In this paper, we present the effect in student success as result of regular attendance in lectures and labs. For this purpose, we collected data from tests of certain courses for several exam terms. To process such data, we initially created adequate computer programs. After processing the gained data, we analyze them using respective tabular and graphical representation. The obtained results clearly show that the impact of student presence in lectures and practical work in laboratory is evident. This imposes the need for professors to ensure regular attendance of students in lectures and exercises in labs.

Systematic Mentoring on Three Continents

© 2011 The Society for Investigative Dermatology www.jidonline.org 549 interested in dermatological research. The first has been developed in collaboration with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), entitled ESDR/EADV Summer Research Workshop. The inaugural workshop took place in Vienna, Austria, in 2010, with 25 participants from 12 countries. It comprised direct teaching and practical laboratory work focusing on common laboratory methods in dermatology. A similar approach will be taken for future courses. The second program, which will launch in 2011, is the ESDR Academy for Future Leaders in Dermatology. This annual meeting will bring together renowned scientists from dermatology and basic science with the brightest young dermatologists working in the field. Selected participants will have the opportunity to interact with senior scientists in their fields of interest. The ESDR anticipates that this will foster excellence in academic dermatology throughout Europe. All these programs are outlined in detail on the ESDR’s website (http://www.ESDR.org). These recent initiatives show that the ESDR is fully embracing its role as an organization that mentors young colleagues early in their research careers.

Integration of Research Activities of Students and the Educational Process in Order to Create an Innovative Environment at the Department of "Chemistry"

The role of involving of students of younger rates in research activity and influence of this process on perfection of educational process is considered in the article. Examples of use of elements of students research activity are resulted by preparation of course works and in the laboratory practical work realized at "Chemistry" department.

Special‐study modules in a problem‐based learning medical curriculum: An innovative laboratory research practice suppporting introduction to research methodology in the undergraduate curriculum

We describe the organization of wet-lab special-study modules (SSMs) in the Central Research Laboratory of Dokuz Eylül Medical School, Izmir, Turkey with the aim of discussing the scientific, laboratory, and pedagogical aspects of this educational activity. A general introduction to the planning and functioning of these SSMs is given, along with specific examples. The wet-lab SSMs incorporate several innovative pedagogies: problem-based learning, research-based learning, practical laboratory education, team-based learning, and project-based learning. Oral and written evaluations show that the students find this activity rewarding. The wet-lab SSM model applied in the Research-Lab of Dokuz Eylül School of Medicine represents a format which is effective in training the students in research methodology, practical laboratory work, and independent learning.