Incorporating Mastering for Lab Assignments

• University of Alabama Usage in Chemistry Laboratories

• University of Alabama Chemistry Lab Statistics

• How it works • Benefits• Disadvantages

Presented by Erica Livingston, University of Alabama

Incorporating Mastering for Lab Assignments

Advantages

• Paper prelabs are easy to administer

• Paper prelabs are easy to maintain

Disadvantages

• Students are not completing assignments in advance

• Students come to lab unprepared for the days experiment

• Unprepared students create an unsafe laboratory environment

• Excessive answers sharing among students

Traditional Prelaboratory Assignments

Incorporating Mastering for Lab Assignments

• University of Alabama– Beta tested system Spring 2008 with questions

corresponding to the Vincent /Livingston manual 1st and 2nd Edition, accompanying the 1st and 2nd Edition Tro book

– Fall 2010• 54 sections using online pre-lab assignments through

Mastering Chemistry• Approximately 1,200 students

Incorporating Mastering for Lab Assignments

Advantages1. Fulfills desire to equip students with a

working knowledge of procedures, calculations, theory and safety concerns within each laboratory.

2. Requires students to look over laboratory material previous to lab time resulting in a better understanding of the laboratory material.

3. Allows them to look over the material at their own pace and use other resources to complete the assignments.

4. Allows for a more extensive laboratory experience.

5. Most portions are self graded resulting in less grading time required for Graduate Teaching Assistants.

6. Lowers the rate of sharing answers among students in sections.

Disadvantages1. Requires use of online access which

may be limited for some students.

2. Requires time to set up courses, grade and manage system issues.