Pearson Interactive Labs encourages active learning with real-world relevancy
Pearson | March 11, 2022 in Meaningful Outcomes
by Pearson
Pearson Interactive Labs actively engages students through real-world relevancy
In Fall 2021, Pearson interviewed three instructors and surveyed 50 instructors and 316 students across the United States to understand the impact of Pearson Interactive Labs™ on teaching and learning.
Key findings include:
- Interactive Labs facilitates active participation in learning,
- aids in the understanding of the scientific process, and
- conveys biology topics in a way that has real-world relevancy.
Read the complete findings here or continue reading to learn more about what instructors and learners have to say.
Understanding the process of science
When compared to other online labs used by Mark Manteuffel, instructor at St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, MO, he feels Interactive Labs more effectively demonstrates the process of science in a way that resonates with students.
“Interactive Labs does a really good job of presenting a relevant, real-world scenario and having students use the process of science as they are guided through the scenario. Competitor labs that I have used have been okay but did not stress the process of science as well.”
Real-world relevancy
Oftentimes students disengage with labs that they feel don’t apply to them. Amy Helms, instructor at Collin College in Frisco, TX, finds this lack of engagement with both her majors and non-majors students. With Interactive Labs for Protein Structure, she is excited to finally offer them a lab that encourages their participation.
“I like that Interactive Labs has a topic that is relevant to the student. When you have some random experiment using a model system that they’ve never heard of, it just doesn’t engage them at all. It’s some weird thing, they don’t really care about it, and it doesn’t resonate with them. With Interactive Labs, the topics are relevant to them.”
Active Participation
The engagement that accompanies content with real world-relevancy has led to students becoming much more invested in what they are learning in the Interactive Labs, notes Katie Johnson, instructor at Collin College in Frisco, TX. She feels this connection to the content has translated into increased comprehension.
“With Interactive Labs, students feel like they are part of the process. Because it is relatable, they are interested in it. They are more likely to actually read the content, pick a legitimate answer and not just click, click, click. They want to participate in the labs, and I think comprehension just naturally follows when they are engaged.”
Do instructors find Pearson Interactive Labs beneficial?
Survey results indicate most instructors feel Pearson Interactive Labs would be a good fit for their non-major biology students.
- 90% of responding instructors say they would assign the lab as a replacement, as a pre-lab activity, or as a post-lab follow-up.
- 86% of responding instructors agree Interactive Labs would be engaging for non-majors biology students.
- 86% of responding instructors strongly agree or agree that Interactive Labs help students actively learn as opposed to passively clicking through to the end.
Do students like Pearson Interactive Labs?
In Fall 2021, 313 students across the United States completed a voluntary, end-of-trial survey, indicating the majority of responding students recognize the value of Interactive Labs.
- 97% of respondents stated they understood how to navigate through the lab experience.
- 83% of respondents strongly agree or agree that they were able to actively learn while completing the lab as opposed to passively clicking through to the end.
One student said:
“It was an interesting lab that could be applied to today’s situation and applicable to the real-world.”
Learn more about how Pearson Interactive Labs could benefit your course
