The Role of E-Labs in Promoting the Conceptual Understanding of Science Students

Laboratory-based courses play a critical role in scientific education, yet there is disagreement among science and engineering educators about whether and which types of technology mediated lab work should be involved to promote learners’ better conceptual understanding, design skills or professional skills. In this study we tried to evaluate the efficiency of different types of e-labs, using Ma, Nickerson four dimensional models of educational goals. We found different patterns and enlarged the model to 5 dimensions. We attempted to clearly specify the differences, advantages and disadvantages of all 3 kinds of e-labs according to educational goals to be reached. We also tried to investigate which aspects of the laboratory experience are most essential to learners and if those lab characteristics are related to learner characteristics or prior experience. In the second part of the study we focused on investigating (not verifying) the hypothesis that it is not the actual nature of the laboratories, but the beliefs that students and teachers have about them, which may determine the effectiveness of different lab types.

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