Laboratory practicals: Goals, perspectives and ways of adding value to teaching labs in higher education

What are your memories of teaching labs? If you did a science or engineering degree, then  you most likely have some recollections. Your experiences may have been positive, negative or a mixture of the two, but it’s most likely they were memorable!

As educators, we want our students to have the best possible education throughout their time at university. As bioscientists, we know that adding practical aspects can do so much to supplement the theory. Laboratory practicals have been part of science education for over two centuries, running alongside lectures, tutorials and seminars as core components of science higher education.

Learning Science is a specialist technology partner with a mission to help universities make the right choices in the rapidly advancing landscape of digital learning. Our individual learning journeys as scientists have a common thread that is undeniably influenced by the hundreds of hours spent in teaching labs. Responding to the demands of higher education to enhance (not replace) laboratory practicals, the company focuses on the interplay between three core disciplines: science education; learning design and web technology.