Lab Rotation Model
What is the Lab Rotation Model?
Educators facilitate offline activities for learners in the traditional classroom setting and then move the learning to online activities in more of a lab setting (Spiro, 2021). In the lab rotation model for blended learning, students participate in offline activities in the classroom supported by structured supplemental online activities in a computer lab (Spiro, 2021). The lab rotation model can be implemented in one of two ways.
1. Students spend one part of the school day working through an online curriculum in a lab at their own pace and the other part of the school day in the classroom with a teacher who can reinforce what they have learned that day in the lab or answer any questions (Hunsinger, 2018).
2. Students start their day in the classroom with a mini-lesson, and then students who the teacher feels have a good grasp on the content move to self-paced independent practice in the lab, allowing the teacher to work with students who need additional support in a small group environment (Hunsinger, 2018).
Click on the images below to watch the videos. Watch both videos to learn more about the lab rotation model.
Johnson, N. [Video Image]. (2016). https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y10bvjiYo8E?t=6s
Click on the image above and watch the video to learn more about Lab Rotation.
Video Length - 4 minutes, 18 seconds
Kahn Academy Brasil [Video Image]. (2014). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8_E2T9KSbU
Click on the image above and watch the video to learn how Navigator Schools redesigned the school day using Lab Rotation.
Video Length - 2 minutes, 23 seconds
Role of Teachers:
Lab activities are developed by the classroom teacher and normally include:
A) Individualized assignments that could also be used for remediation or extension
B) Research
C) Adaptable Software
D) Digital Presentations on the content presented in the mini-lesson
E) Interactive activities such as discussion boards
F) Simulations or scenarios such as a virtual experiment for a science class
All of the activities completed during a lab rotation require the availability and use of an electronic device such as a computer or tablet (Hunsinger, 2018).
Role of Students:
Students spend part of their day in the lab and part of their day in front of a teacher.
The lab rotation model provides some flexibility to students and can allow them to work on their courses at their own pace (Tucker, 2021).
Higher achieving students have the opportunity to work on extension assignments in the lab portion of the day to deepen their understanding of the material.
Similarly, students who may be struggling a little to grasp content have the opportunity to remediate in the lab, as well as receive more attention from their teachers (Spiro, 2021).
Top Three Benefits
Does not require major adjustments to the traditional learning setup or environment, most schools have access to a computer lab and many schools provide devices for each student making the transition to lab-based blended learning fairly seamless (Spiro, 2021).
A lab rotation model also has the flexibility for students to work at their own pace and can be adapted so that students can work on varying activities at once based on their mastery of the material (Hunsinger, 2018).
A lab rotation model also allows special education and ESOL students the opportunity to receive accommodations more easily. For example, students who have an accommodation of read aloud on assignments or allowed the use of a dictionary or translating software could complete assignments more easily in a lab environment (A Pass, 2021).
Challenges
Requires a significant shift in teaching methods and more planning on the front end. Also requires some training and access to teaching assistants since it defeats the purpose if teachers have to supervise the lab time as they are not available to provide additional support to students (Spiro, 2021).
Lab rotations require access to a computer lab or device for each student
Lab rotations require a significant amount of resources to work effectively
Things to Consider When Creating Lab Rotations:
Teachers, when planning for a lab rotation, should implement student choice whenever possible and use some guiding questions to ensure that the activities implemented are serving their intended purpose of increasing student engagement and understanding and depth of knowledge of the content (Tucker, 2021).
Make plans for how you will balance online with offline.
Find ways to ensure that you are encouraging both individual and collaborative work.
Plan ways for students to enjoy the agency to make key decisions about their learning experience.
Decide how will the instruction, models, practice, or scaffolds be differentiated to ensure all students can be successful.
Consider when the teacher will work directly with students to provide additional support, guidance, or feedback.
Now that you have learned about the Lab Rotation Model, complete the chart on your reflection sheet based on your understanding of the model.
Click the NEXT button to learn more about the Individual Rotation Model.
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