This research paper will describe the results of an experiment in which the level of inquiry in a laboratory manual is varied from guided inquiry to open inquiry by
reducing the specificity of the instructions in the lab manual. The hypothesis is that less specific instructions will cause students to reflect on their actions in lab and, as a result, circle further around Kolb’s experiential learning cycle during each step of the lab. This should result in improved recall and better integration of laboratory and classroom understanding. Student learning outcomes are assessed using an in-lab, direct assessment which evaluates both students’ laboratory skills and their ability to relate experiences in the laboratory to classroom learning. Student attitudes are also assessed with surveys.
The in-lab assessment is the primary tool used to assess student learning outcomes, so it is discussed in detail. It is a series of questions which are designed to be answered at a laboratory bench. The questions ask the student to record data from an instrument using an oscilloscope, extract information from that data, and then use the extracted information to perform analysis.
The experiment had 195 participants, 106 in the specific-instruction, control group and 89 in the non-specific instruction, treatment group. Results show that more treatment students than control students learned to scale a signal on an oscilloscope screen , while control students learned to use an oscilloscope’s built-in save/recall feature more effectively. There is also weak evidence that shows greater affective gains in the treatment group. This shows that there is potential for increasing student learning by studying how best to write laboratory manuals, and that increasing reflection is a way to achieve that goal. However, it also shows that there are many ways to increase reflection, and further research is required to identify them thoroughly.
Spencer Rosen is a student at Harvey Mudd College pursuing a BS in Engineering with an emphasis on Electrical and Computer Engineering. He expects to graduate in May of 2020.
Sabrine Griffith is pursuing a BS in Engineering with a focus on Biomedical Devices Engineering at Harvey Mudd College and a BS at Claremont McKenna College in Economics. She expects to graduate with these two degrees in May of 2020.
Eli Byrnes is a student at Harvey Mudd College, currently pursuing a BS in Mathematics. Eli has an interest in doing work in STEM education and expects to graduate from in May of 2021.
Laura Palucki Blake is the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Effectiveness at Harvey Mudd College, where her primary role is to coordinate data collection, interpretation and dissemination to support teaching and learning, planning and decision-making across the college.
Matthew Spencer is an assistant professor at Harvey Mudd College. His research interests include experiential and hands-on learning, and integrating mechanical, chemical and quantum devices into circuits and communication links.
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