Research has shown that the objectives for laboratory teaching--just as with other teaching methods--are often not achieved and that many laboratory sessions are ineffective and yet expensive in terms of pupil and teacher time, and facilities. There are several reasons for this, but one reason is that instructions for many lab activities are too…

Although critical thinking and developing student confidence are common objectives of courses in laboratory experimentation, a study of one Australian engineering course showed little progress toward these goals and that efforts to develop critical thinking conflicted with development of confidence. More attention to these objectives within course…