Learning from Labdog: Best Practice for Laboratory Response System Questions

Labdog is a novel web technology designed to promote learning in and around the teaching laboratory. During a laboratory session, Labdog offers functionality similar to a Classroom Response System (CRS), e.g. ‘clickers’ or ‘zappers’. Labdog focuses on a different environment: the teaching laboratory – and can therefore be referred to as a Laboratory Response System (LaRS). Results from piloting with students demonstrated that many of them hold misconceptions about the scientific principles relating to their actions in a laboratory setting. Unfortunately, it is rarely feasible to address all of these problems during the laboratory session itself. This paper first outlines the underlying educational theory and advantages that this LaRS approach offers, and then details four principles of good instructional design for using LaRS. Good question design should highlight students’ misconceptions, while allowing adequate time and opportunities to address them.