In the vast shift to online teaching caused by the new coronavirus, one of the most common questions raised was: But what about lab classes? Is it even possible to move a lab course quickly online and still meet your learning objectives?
I have been teaching exclusively online for five years now, and have created and revised several online laboratory courses myself. Now, as the lead faculty member in natural and physical sciences at Colorado State University Global, I oversee the development of online lab courses. The short answer to this very big question is: yes, for many lab classes, it is possible. It comes down to modifying learning objectives and finding the right resources. You can’t bring a nuclear reactor into the home, but you can simulate it; you wouldn’t want students working with a disease sample at home, but they could use a simulation.
In the difficult weeks ahead, your goal will be to deliver clear instructions to your students and create labs they can perform without a teacher present, while reducing technical glitches. We already have ways to teach a lab online, but if you’ve never used them before, they may seem intimidating — especially at a time when everyone is feeling stressed by our global health crisis.