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Run Lab Activities
Run Lab Activities
Lab activities often rely on specialized equipment and specific physical spaces. For this reason, reproducing and sustaining the lab components of a course are especially challenging in a temporary remote learning environment.
Lab activities often rely on specialized equipment and specific physical spaces. For this reason, reproducing and sustaining the lab components of a course are especially challenging in a temporary remote learning environment.
Keep these principles in mind:
Keep these principles in mind:
Learning objectives are key:
Learning objectives are key:
Develop a list of learning objectives for each of your lab activities if you don't already have one. Your list of learning objectives are key to inform the decisions you'll need to make as you move your labs online. Using the learning objectives to drive this process "eye on the prize".
Develop a list of learning objectives for each of your lab activities if you don't already have one. Your list of learning objectives are key to inform the decisions you'll need to make as you move your labs online. Using the learning objectives to drive this process "eye on the prize".
You'll need to make some hard decisions :
You'll need to make some hard decisions :
To be blunt, you'll need to make some hard decisions about the labs that won't be able to meet face to face. It's likely that you won't be able to meet all of your learning objectives, especially those for which physical contact/practice are critical. In some cases these objectives, you might need to set aside for when you can meet with students again face to face.
To be blunt, you'll need to make some hard decisions about the labs that won't be able to meet face to face. It's likely that you won't be able to meet all of your learning objectives, especially those for which physical contact/practice are critical. In some cases these objectives, you might need to set aside for when you can meet with students again face to face.
Provide students with clear communication :
Provide students with clear communication :
It is always important to be explicit and share learning objectives with students, and this is even more true in remote learning environments. Make sure to communicate learning objectives and goals
It is always important to be explicit and share learning objectives with students, and this is even more true in remote learning environments. Make sure to communicate learning objectives and goals
Ideas to run lab activities:
Ideas to run lab activities:
Investigate virtual labs:
Investigate virtual labs:
Online resources and virtual tools might help replicate the experience of some labs (for example, virtual dissection, night sky apps, video demonstrations of labs, simulations). These vary widely by discipline but check with your textbook publisher or sites such as Merlot for materials that might help replace parts of your lab during an emergency.
Online resources and virtual tools might help replicate the experience of some labs (for example, virtual dissection, night sky apps, video demonstrations of labs, simulations). These vary widely by discipline but check with your textbook publisher or sites such as Merlot for materials that might help replace parts of your lab during an emergency.
Resources:
Resources:
Provide raw data for analysis:
Provide raw data for analysis:
In cases where the lab includes both collection of data and its analysis, consider showing how the data can be collected, and then provide some raw sets of data for students to analyze. This approach is not as comprehensive as having students collect and analyze their own data, but it might keep them engaged with parts of the lab experience during the closure. If possible, provide data in file types easily accessed by students, such as Google Sheets, MS Excel, PDF, or CSV text files. Files can easily be shared with students via Blackboard.
In cases where the lab includes both collection of data and its analysis, consider showing how the data can be collected, and then provide some raw sets of data for students to analyze. This approach is not as comprehensive as having students collect and analyze their own data, but it might keep them engaged with parts of the lab experience during the closure. If possible, provide data in file types easily accessed by students, such as Google Sheets, MS Excel, PDF, or CSV text files. Files can easily be shared with students via Blackboard.
Resources:
Resources:
Supporting media: Find examples or record your own
Supporting media: Find examples or record your own
In many cases, media showing lab activities is likely to already be available online in resources such as YouTube. If they are not, and you still have access to your teaching lab, you might be able to capture and share short demonstration video clips using Panopto. Although less than ideal, these clips can be captured using a laptop’s webcam and microphone, or a cell phone.
In many cases, media showing lab activities is likely to already be available online in resources such as YouTube. If they are not, and you still have access to your teaching lab, you might be able to capture and share short demonstration video clips using Panopto. Although less than ideal, these clips can be captured using a laptop’s webcam and microphone, or a cell phone.
Panopto Resources:
Panopto Resources:
Getting started with Panopto recordings in Blackboard (W&M IT Site)
Getting started with Panopto recordings in Blackboard (W&M IT Site)
Set up your Blackboard course for Panopto (W&M IT Guide)
Set up your Blackboard course for Panopto (W&M IT Guide)
The best way to record your own lectures (Panopto help pages)
The best way to record your own lectures (Panopto help pages)
Other Resources:
Other Resources:
Explore alternate software access:
Explore alternate software access:
Some labs require access to specialized software only available on campus. Consider modifying activities so they can be completed using other software applications available to students on their devices. If this is not possible, students may be able to remotely access mission-critical and unique software through the college’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution.
Some labs require access to specialized software only available on campus. Consider modifying activities so they can be completed using other software applications available to students on their devices. If this is not possible, students may be able to remotely access mission-critical and unique software through the college’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution.
Resources:
Resources:
Zoom videoconferencing: Increase interaction in other ways
Zoom videoconferencing: Increase interaction in other ways
Sometimes labs are more about having time for direct student interaction, so consider other ways to replicate that level of contact if it is only your lab that is out of commission. Having students participate in live Zoom conversations is a good way, for example, to increase interaction.
Sometimes labs are more about having time for direct student interaction, so consider other ways to replicate that level of contact if it is only your lab that is out of commission. Having students participate in live Zoom conversations is a good way, for example, to increase interaction.
Resources:
Resources:
Getting started with Zoom sessions in Blackboard (W&M IT site)
Getting started with Zoom sessions in Blackboard (W&M IT site)
Zoom Help Center can answer most questions about Zoom
Zoom Help Center can answer most questions about Zoom
Presented by the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation in coordination with Information Technology and W&M Libraries.
Copyright © 2020
Presented by the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation in coordination with Information Technology and W&M Libraries.
Copyright © 2020
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