Education research: post-instruction feedback on laboratory learning (Cuesta College, Physics 205B, fall semester 2010)

Cuesta College students taking Physics 205B (college physics, algebra-based) at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA take a mandatory adjunct laboratory. Instead of a conventional set of step-by-step equipment set-up instructions, students are given a specific task to set up, complete and document. For example:

1. Construct a circuit consisting of a single 9-V battery, and as many Xmas light bulbs (and connectors) as necessary such that there are bulbs with at least three different brightness levels.
   
2. Make the appropriate measurements to determine the current and voltage drop of each different brightness bulb when on, in order to calculate the resistance and power dissipated for each unique brightness light bulb (with significant figures).
   
3. Discuss how your measurements/calculations demonstrate that there are light bulbs with three different power levels.

(Note that the above task follows an earlier lab where students were not told how to use multimeters, but instructed to tinker and determine their proper handling and use in simple measurements.)

During the last week of instruction, students were given the opportunity to evaluate the laboratory components of the course in an online "Physics Laboratory Learning Survey" hosted by SurveyMonkey.com.

These are the complete survey results. Analysis will be forthcoming after more data has been compiled from future semesters. Values for the mean and standard deviations are given next to the modal response category for each question. Note that the order of questions within certain sections were randomly scrambled for each student.

Physics Laboratory Learning Survey
Cuesta College
Physics 205B fall semester 2010 section 70856
(N = 11)

I. In order to receive credit for completing this survey,
   first enter your first and last name below:
   ____


II.1 Which of the following best characterizes your 
     preparation/involvement for lab?  Mark all that apply.   
     Read the directions/review concepts... 

1. while doing the lab.                  8 : ********
2. immediately before starting the lab.  9 : *********
3. the night before the lab.             5 : *****
4. a day (or more) before the lab.       2 : **
   
II.2 How often did a lab build upon a previous lecture experience?
1. Never                  0 : 
2. Not much               0 : 
3. Sometimes              1 : *
4. Often                  3 : ***
5. Always                 7 : *******  [4.5 +/- 0.7]

II.3 How often did a lab build upon a previous lab experience?
1. Never                  0 : 
2. Not much               1 : *
3. Sometimes              5 : *****  [3.5 +/- 0.9]
4. Often                  3 : ***
5. Always                 2 : **


III. Rate the level of your understanding/comprehension for a typical lab.

III.1 Understanding of concepts before coming to lab.
1. None                   0 : 
2. Very little            0 : 
3. Neutral                7 : *******
4. Much                   4 : ****  [3.4 +/- 0.5]
5. Complete               0 : 

III.2 Understanding of concepts after pre-lab discussion, before starting work.  
1. None                   0 : 
2. Very little            0 : 
3. Neutral                5 : *****
4. Much                   5 : *****  [3.6 +/- 0.6]
5. Complete               1 : *

III.3 Understanding of concepts after completing in-lab work.
1. None                   0 : 
2. Very little            0 : 
3. Neutral                0 : 
4. Much                   7 : *******  [4.4 +/- 0.5]
5. Complete               4 : ****

III.4 Understanding of concepts after completing lab report.
1. None                   0 : 
2. Very little            0 : 
3. Neutral                1 : *
4. Much                   5 : *****  [4.4 +/- 0.6]
5. Complete               5 : *****

III.5 Comprehension of overall lab procedure/instructions.   
1. None                   0 : 
2. Very little            0 : 
3. Neutral                2 : **
4. Much                   3 : ***  [4.4 +/- 0.8]
5. Complete               6 : ******

III.6 Comprehension of overall lab purpose.  
1. None                   0 : 
2. Very little            0 : 
3. Neutral                2 : **
4. Much                   3 : ***  [4.4 +/- 0.8]
5. Complete               6 : ******


IV. Typically a lab would help me understand the concepts.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               2 : **
3. Some                   2 : **
4. Agree                  5 : *****  [3.6 +/- 1.0]
5. Strongly agree         2 : **


V.1 How much time did you typically spend preparing/studying 
    before the start of lab (including work on pre-lab assignments)?
1. 15 minutes or less     4 : ****
2. 30 minutes             6 : ******
3. 1 hour                 1 : *
4. 2 hours                0 : 
5. 3 hours or more        0 : 

V.2 How much time did you typically spend working on lab reports 
    (after completing in-lab work)?
1. 15 minutes or less     0 : 
2. 30 minutes             2 : **
3. 1 hour                 5 : *****
4. 2 hours                4 : ****
5. 3 hours or more        0 : 


VI. (Optional.) Please type in any comments you may have regarding 
   the laboratory portion of this class.

"The labs were fun, but I never understood the reflection part of it."

"The 205A lab was just a waste of time but this lab was actually helped me understand the material better ( To be honest I didn't expect that to help me at all)"

"..."

"I feel we did not go over the concepts enough in lecture before doing the labs."

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