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Developing Undergraduate Practical Skills and Independence with 'At Home Practical Kits'

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Title: Developing Undergraduate Practical Skills and Independence with 'At Home Practical Kits'
Language: English
Authors: Katharine Hubbard (ORCID 0000-0002-4862-0466), Dominic Henri (ORCID 0000-0002-7574-5846), Graham Scott (ORCID 0000-0003-0896-0287), Howard Snelling (ORCID 0000-0003-4831-1724), Elke Roediger (ORCID 0000-0003-2076-6065)
Source: International Journal of Science Education. 2025 47(1):65-86.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, Physics, Science Instruction, Biology, Science Experiments, COVID-19, Pandemics, Home Programs, Home Study, Learning Activities, Independent Study, Self Esteem, Skill Development, Problem Solving, Thinking Skills, Hands on Science
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2024.2311087
ISSN: 0950-0693
1464-5289
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for practical teaching within the sciences. While many instructors adopted innovative alternatives to conventional practicals, many relied on digital approaches that did not give students hands-on experience. In this study we evaluate the use of 'at home' practical kits used in first year physics and biology teaching at a UK university as an alternative to laboratory classes. In particular we focus on the enforced independence over time, space and help-seeking inherent in the at-home model as a driver of student learning and confidence. Students reported the kits encouraged independence, problem solving and self-reliance. Students associated the at-home practical kits with higher level cognitive skills as defined by Bloom's revised taxonomy. While most students enjoyed using the kits, those who did not enjoy them tended to have higher previous experience of practical work before university. Students saw potential value in the kits after the pandemic, so could be an alternative or supplement to in-person practicals. We recommend that practical organisers use our findings around the development of student self-reliance to reconsider practical design and incorporate more opportunities for students to solve problems independently to increase effectiveness of practical teaching.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1453869
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Developing Undergraduate Practical Skills and Independence with 'At Home Practical Kits'
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katharine+Hubbard%22">Katharine Hubbard</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4862-0466">0000-0002-4862-0466</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dominic+Henri%22">Dominic Henri</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7574-5846">0000-0002-7574-5846</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Graham+Scott%22">Graham Scott</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0896-0287">0000-0003-0896-0287</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Howard+Snelling%22">Howard Snelling</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4831-1724">0000-0003-4831-1724</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elke+Roediger%22">Elke Roediger</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2076-6065">0000-0003-2076-6065</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Science+Education%22"><i>International Journal of Science Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 47(1):65-86.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: 22
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physics%22">Physics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Instruction%22">Science Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biology%22">Biology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Experiments%22">Science Experiments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Home+Programs%22">Home Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Home+Study%22">Home Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Activities%22">Learning Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Independent+Study%22">Independent Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Esteem%22">Self Esteem</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thinking+Skills%22">Thinking Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hands+on+Science%22">Hands on Science</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/09500693.2024.2311087
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  Data: 0950-0693<br />1464-5289
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for practical teaching within the sciences. While many instructors adopted innovative alternatives to conventional practicals, many relied on digital approaches that did not give students hands-on experience. In this study we evaluate the use of 'at home' practical kits used in first year physics and biology teaching at a UK university as an alternative to laboratory classes. In particular we focus on the enforced independence over time, space and help-seeking inherent in the at-home model as a driver of student learning and confidence. Students reported the kits encouraged independence, problem solving and self-reliance. Students associated the at-home practical kits with higher level cognitive skills as defined by Bloom's revised taxonomy. While most students enjoyed using the kits, those who did not enjoy them tended to have higher previous experience of practical work before university. Students saw potential value in the kits after the pandemic, so could be an alternative or supplement to in-person practicals. We recommend that practical organisers use our findings around the development of student self-reliance to reconsider practical design and incorporate more opportunities for students to solve problems independently to increase effectiveness of practical teaching.
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  Data: 2024
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  Data: EJ1453869
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        Value: 10.1080/09500693.2024.2311087
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 65
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physics
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      – SubjectFull: Science Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Science Experiments
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      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: Home Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Home Study
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Activities
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      – SubjectFull: Independent Study
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      – SubjectFull: Self Esteem
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      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
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      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
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      – SubjectFull: Thinking Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Hands on Science
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
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      – TitleFull: Developing Undergraduate Practical Skills and Independence with 'At Home Practical Kits'
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              Y: 2025
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