Strategies for delivering science laboratory teaching in a fully online mode during the COVID-19 pandemic
1 ) Students cannot attend laboratory session on-site 2 ) Risk of passive student engagement in an online space
Creation of digital learning resources 1 ) Bring our lab to the students ( virtually ) - Fig . 1
2 ) Demonstration of commonly used scientific techniques - Fig . 2 3 ) Interactive lessons integrating both immersive 3D model and technique videos - Fig . 3
Figure 1 : 3D model of the lab with practical setup for first year Biology course – BABS1201 .
3D model of the Laboratory
Figure 2 : Technique videos demonstrating laboratory practices .
Figure 3 : Interactive immersive lesson where students are introduced to laboratory practices using both the virtual lab model and technique videos .
Interactive lessons for 1 st yr Biology course
Virtual AND at home 1 ) Design AT HOME practical experiment where students investigate practical concepts using common household items – Fig . 4 2 ) Participation-based online session encourages student contribution using Jamboard – Fig . 5 and student feedback – Fig . 6
Figure 4 : At home fermentation experiment using common household items such as corn starch , sugar , malt and zip-locked bag ( designed by John Wilson for BABS1202 ).
Figure 5 : Jamboard slides with interactive learning activities in tabular format , Venn diagram , images and regulatory pathways ( designed by Lana Ly for BIOC2201 ).
Figure 6 : Student feedback on the use of interactive Jamboard ( provided by Lana Ly and Liam Cheney ).
Outcome
Development of engaging teaching practices and sustainable online learning resources that can , by design , be used in multiple courses or contexts ( teaching , training and outreach ).
Dr Gee Chong Ling ( g . ling @ unsw . edu . au ) & Dr Tammy Tang School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences , Faculty of Science