Online pre‐labs to enhance learning in an introductory biochemistry laboratory class (618.3)

Evaluating the preparation of students prior to performing an experiment in an undergraduate laboratory class can be complex with large class sizes and limited resources. We have a designed a two‐stage online pre‐lab system to assess student preparation and comprehension before most weekly experiments. The first portion is a single submission of four to six questions due the evening before each experiment. This due date allows the instructor time to score the responses prior to class and notify students of errors that might otherwise negatively impact their experiment. These pre‐labs also allow the instructor to address common misunderstandings and engage in one‐on‐one discussions with students about their answers during each class. The second portion allows for unlimited attempts and is automatically scored, giving students the opportunity to practice calculations and test general knowledge. Learning material covered by the second portion was then evaluated via in‐class quizzes. We present both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the effectiveness of this approach and practical lessons learned for utilizing it in future semesters.