Using laboratory notebooks and reports to assess learning
The laboratory might be a physical or virtual environment and can enable learning and the integration of theory and practice.
A particular laboratory activity may be intended to develop knowledge of, and skills in, laboratory procedures, health and safety and/or scientific enquiry.
It is important at the points of designing laboratory learning to consider the particular purpose of the laboratory experience and how the learning will be assessed.
Laboratory notebooks and laboratory reports are artefacts which capture the laboratory experience in a form that can be shared and read.
The overall aims of laboratory and other practice-based work could include:
1. Subject-related cognitive - including scientific method
2. Subject related practical - using the kit and may also include professional attitudes
3. Key skills - which would be transferrable to other aspects of study and life
Other aims might include the assessment of:Skills- analysis of data- recording data or procedure - designing experiments- ethics of experimental design- report writing and intelligent presentation of results (depending on audience)
as well as- familiarity with kit, procedures and approaches- social (working within a group towards a common goal) - illustrative (of theory, for example) - motivational
Above all, you need to think about the purposes of the laboratory/practical activity (intended learning outcomes) and then define what the notebook/report will evidence (for constructive alignment).