Learning from blended chemistry laboratories

While laboratory or practical work is vital to many courses and programs within the sciences, it can also be the most challenging component to deliver effectively at a distance. In addition to the traditional face-to-face chemistry laboratory, Athabasca University has employed many alternative laboratories including virtual, remote and home-study laboratories to give our students the needed access and flexibility. Although the newer educational technologies often do provide viable substitutions to the traditional experience, it appears from initial results that combinations of modes offer even better returns on meaningful student engagement and learning. Therefore the future direction would be to further implement, study and explore alternative modes of laboratory delivery, not in isolation but by combining and blending them to optimize the student experience creating the teaching laboratory for the 21st century.