Exploring student perception of laboratory workbooks: authentic learning or missed opportunity?

Project leader(s): Karen NewLorraine WatersSarah Daniell
Theme: Other
Faculty: STEM
Status: Current
Dates: May 2025 to November 2026

Accurate record keeping is an important employability skill that students need to develop in any scientific discipline. Currently, in some Health/Biomedical Sciences and Biology modules at Stage 1 and Stage 2, this is supported using workbooks to develop the skill of methodical record keeping throughout complex online investigations. For those modules using workbooks, the specific use of the workbooks and the format presented to students differs. This study therefore aims to determine how students perceive and use workbooks on their modules, whether they are an important adjunct to their learning and how they could be improved and potentially implemented on other STEM modules.

The approach taken will be to assess students’ use and perception of workbooks available on SK190, Human biology: a body in balance, S290, Investigating human health and disease and S296, Cell and molecular biology, by sending a questionnaire to students currently studying those modules towards the end of the 24J presentation. If possible, we would be keen to gather a more in-depth perspective through focus group discussion. Given the unique profile of the modules involved in this study, (i.e. that all three modules have recently come out of production) it would also be useful to gain insight into the production of workbooks and to explore the experiences of the Module Team members involved, the Curriculum managers and ALs teaching the module. This would be done by a round table discussion. Furthermore, we will survey students completing their capstone module (SXH390/SXB390) where there is no formal workbook provided, to understand any impact of using workbooks earlier in their learning journey.

This project will impact students by highlighting the preferred format for workbooks and what students find most useful, so this can be taken forward on other modules. By collecting the experiences from members of staff associated with the production and use of workbooks, and students who use them, we can inform the implementation of workbooks more widely. This is particularly important for accreditation, for example by the RSB and IBMS, for whom good laboratory practice is a key requirement. The consistent and competent use of workbooks for laboratory records is an essential component of this.