Original research

Annual Lab Report: The State of Online & On-Campus Science Labs

How are programs preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in these courses?

Ready to dig in?

While enrollment in on-campus labs decreases and demand for online grows, the lines between online and on-campus learning continue to blur, as programs search for effective ways to deliver learning experiences that lead to greater student success.

In this report, we examine the lab experience from the instructor and student perspectives, the challenges they face delivering or taking online and on-campus labs, and strategies for ensuring quality, with a focus on:

  • Enrollment Trends
  • Addressing Top Challenges
  • Effectiveness of Lab Modalities
  • Pre-Lab Effectiveness
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What It Means for Student Success

Based on the survey responses that inform this report, we found that these five actions can significantly impact the success of your lab courses.

  1. Delivering a course mix that supports diverse student needs
  2. Using hands-on for a high quality, authentic lab experience
  3. Supplementing hands-on with virtual simulations to reinforce learning
  4. Leveraging pre-labs with trial experiments to improve student preparedness
  5. Providing student resources & support to ensure greater success
  6.  

Here’s what 2,173 administrators, instructors & students told us!

75% of deans/department chairs report steady growth in online lab courses       

39% plan to increase the number of lab courses offered online.
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80% of administrators, instructors & students agree that a lack of preparedness and prerequisite knowledge needed for the courses is the top challenge.
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88% of students want to be able to take their science courses online.
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83% of students say a virtual pre-lab that includes a simulation of a trial experiment would help them feel more prepared for an in-person lab.
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82% of students say hands-on labs provide the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in an online course, while 84% say virtual simulations help to reinforce key skills.
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80% of admins said recreating a hands-on experience is a key challenge with online labs.
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Blending Boundaries: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of STEM & Online Learning 

Join us on Thursday, September 26th for an eye-opening webinar where we'll  bring together insights from two groundbreaking reports–Quality Matters' Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE) and Science Interactive's 2024 Annual Lab Report. You'll also hear firsthand from a Chair & faculty member at Central Piedmont Community College about their experience and best practices for teaching STEM courses in this changing environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in STEM education. Register now to gain valuable insights and strategies for creating more effective, engaging learning experiences for your students.

Register Now

How We Developed
the Lab Report:

In order to develop our report, we conducted an extensive survey to gather insights from deans & department chairs, instructors, and students on the effectiveness of online and on-campus STEM labs. We received an overwhelming response, with over 2,170 individuals across the country participating. 

Based on the data collected, we compiled a detailed annual report that delves into crucial aspects related to enrollment trends, quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of different lab modalities.

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Get The Report

Want to see last year's report? Access the 2023 Lab Report.