Teaching lab practicals

This three day course is intended for people who want to improve their lab teaching skills and elements of their practical class.
All people who teach lab practicals (technicians, PhDs, post-docs and other staff) are welcome.

Content

The three day course consists of three themes.

Theme 1: Design & Assessment

• What do you want your students to achieve during the practical (the learning outcomes)?
• Designing elements of the practical using the research cycle
• Choosing effective assessment methods
• Developing an assessment form (e.g. rubric) for practical reports and/or for practical skills

Theme 2: Supervising students and giving feedback

• Supervision
  • Balance between guidance and own responsibility of the student
  • Dealing with difficult situations/students.
  • Motivating students
• Giving feedback to students
• Teaching methods for plenary feedback (wrap up at the end of practical class)
• Workshop by Philippe Puylaert (coordinator large microbiology practicals) about efficient logistics during practicals

Theme 3: Giving an introduction/demonstration 

• Theory and exercise about giving an introduction with a focus on motivation and interaction.
• Demonstrating an experiment or technique 

Learning outcomes

The participant:

• Analyses the practical using the research cycle and redesigns elements of the practical
• Draws up an assessment form to assess students’  lab performance
• Describes factors that influence students’ motivation and uses this when supervising students
• Adjusts their supervision depending on the type of practical and the students’ learning process and needs
• Gives feedback to individual students and prepares and leads a plenary feedback session
• Gives a clear and motivating introduction to/demonstration during a practical class

Method

During the course you are expected to play an active role yourself. You will be provided with information and exchange tips and tricks, which you will then process and apply through discussions, assignments and exercises.

In theme 3 you will practice giving a motivating and clear introduction at the start of a practical or you practice demonstrating a technique.

Target group and Prerequisites

The course content should tie in with your teaching duties at Wageningen University:

• You should have (some) experience in teaching lab practicals
• You will be working on your own laboratory practical, so you must bring a course guide and know your own role and responsibilities within the course.

This course can be chosen as elective course in the UTQ. It is also suitable as part of an Orientation on Teaching and Supervision (Pre-UTQ). 

Certificate

You will be awarded a certificate of attendance.  

Costs

Participation is free for Wageningen University & Research staff involved in teaching WU courses.

Cancellation

We consider registration as final. When cancelled within three weeks before the activity starts, your chair group will be charged all costs of your subscription (€350,-).

If there are less than 6 participants in the course, Education Support Centre may cancel the course and notify you at the latest 2 weeks before the start of the course.