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Impact of Laboratory Exercises on Undergraduate Learning Outcomes in Online STEM General Education Courses among Working Adult and Returning Students

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Title: Impact of Laboratory Exercises on Undergraduate Learning Outcomes in Online STEM General Education Courses among Working Adult and Returning Students
Language: English
Authors: Kristen A. Miller, Shelli N. Carter, Joseph Marra
Source: Online Learning. 2025 29(2):322-355.
Availability: Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Adult Education
Descriptors: STEM Education, Undergraduate Students, General Education, Adult Students, Reentry Students, Laboratory Experiments, Online Courses, Electronic Learning, Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Science Laboratories, Learning Objectives, Student Attitudes, Instructional Effectiveness
ISSN: 2472-5749
2472-5730
Abstract: Fully online courses and degree programs are popular with students. These courses should provide the rigor and value of traditional learning in a face-to-face classroom to ensure mastery of concepts and learning objectives. This research expands previous work to investigate the effectiveness of online laboratory exercises in enhancing student understanding of core concepts taught in fully online introductory astronomy, physics, and biology courses. Identical classes, with or without an online laboratory, were compared to determine gains in content mastery. A Likert-style survey was also used to quantify student perception of the laboratory component for those courses and measure overall student satisfaction. Results indicated astronomy and physics students in online laboratory courses showed significant gains in mastery of learning outcomes, thereby demonstrating effectiveness; biology students in online courses showed more mixed results. Further, surveys indicated student perceptions strongly support the belief that the labs helped to learn the course material and labs were an effective "hands-on" experience, directly contributing to student satisfaction in all disciplines studied. As such, this study represents an assessment of the effectiveness of different online course designs in achieving student mastery and satisfaction. [Note: The page range (322-356) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 322-355.]
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1474277
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Impact of Laboratory Exercises on Undergraduate Learning Outcomes in Online STEM General Education Courses among Working Adult and Returning Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kristen+A%2E+Miller%22">Kristen A. Miller</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shelli+N%2E+Carter%22">Shelli N. Carter</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joseph+Marra%22">Joseph Marra</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Learning%22"><i>Online Learning</i></searchLink>. 2025 29(2):322-355.
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  Data: Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index
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  Data: 34
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  Data: 2472-5749<br />2472-5730
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Fully online courses and degree programs are popular with students. These courses should provide the rigor and value of traditional learning in a face-to-face classroom to ensure mastery of concepts and learning objectives. This research expands previous work to investigate the effectiveness of online laboratory exercises in enhancing student understanding of core concepts taught in fully online introductory astronomy, physics, and biology courses. Identical classes, with or without an online laboratory, were compared to determine gains in content mastery. A Likert-style survey was also used to quantify student perception of the laboratory component for those courses and measure overall student satisfaction. Results indicated astronomy and physics students in online laboratory courses showed significant gains in mastery of learning outcomes, thereby demonstrating effectiveness; biology students in online courses showed more mixed results. Further, surveys indicated student perceptions strongly support the belief that the labs helped to learn the course material and labs were an effective "hands-on" experience, directly contributing to student satisfaction in all disciplines studied. As such, this study represents an assessment of the effectiveness of different online course designs in achieving student mastery and satisfaction. [Note: The page range (322-356) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 322-355.]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 322
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: General Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adult Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reentry Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Laboratory Experiments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Online Courses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Astronomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Laboratories
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Objectives
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Impact of Laboratory Exercises on Undergraduate Learning Outcomes in Online STEM General Education Courses among Working Adult and Returning Students
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Kristen A. Miller
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            NameFull: Shelli N. Carter
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            NameFull: Joseph Marra
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              M: 01
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              Y: 2025
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