Formative Assessment: improving students' experience in the teaching labs

Milian, L

Abstract

Formative assessment is recognised as one of the most effective ways to help and promote students’ learning. Students consider laboratory learning to be challenging, though sometimes it is not appreciated and not recognised as a valuable source of learning new skills and theory in the physical sciences. In our Advanced Organic Laboratory students were marked at the end of the course and the only feedback they received was summative. In pursuit of high marks students often did not enjoy the labs and although they worked hard they struggled to obtain good scores. In our study a formative experiment was introduced to the Advanced Organic Laboratory followed by formative feedback. We monitored the study through focus groups and surveys over three years. The students welcomed formative practical and feedback because it enhanced their knowledge and laboratory skills and helped them to enjoy their practical work in the chemistry lab.

Citation

Milian, L. (online). Formative Assessment: improving students' experience in the teaching labs. Online educational research journal,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Deposit Date: Sep 19, 2018
• Journal: Online Educational Research Journal
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-0294
• Publisher: School of Education, Durham University
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1319058
• Publisher URL: http://community.dur.ac.uk/p.b.tymms/oerj/publications/85.pdf
• Related Public URLs: http://community.dur.ac.uk/p.b.tymms/oerj/publications/85.pdf