Investigating the impact of a laboratory skills checklist on student engagement in biology

Abstract

In summary, the lab skills checklist slightly improved student engagement in labs, allowed students to track their progress and had benefits for students of varying levels of achievement. While 50% of students who test at a C to D average felt the LSC was helpful, 83% of the A to B average students said the LSC was beneficial. One can infer that the A-B students appreciated the LSC because they routinely use tools that have the potential to improve their learning. As a communication tool, the LSC accurately informed the teacher of student readiness in skills that require one step and less accurately demonstrated student readiness for multi-step tasks. Furthermore, student surveys revealed that the LSC shows potential to improve as a communication tool with simple revisions.