Calculating analytical uncertainties as a part of method validation is a relevant aspect of field and laboratory practices in instrumental analytical chemistry subjects, which usually require complex algorithms. This work describes the development and didactic use of an automatic and straightforward informatics tool, implemented in an Excel macro,…

As a model study for improving undergraduate organic chemistry laboratories with contemporary research concepts and practices, we evaluated a project module aiming at the synthesis of two porphyrin compounds. The module was implemented in a format that differed in several ways from that of a traditional course. It was designed for small student…

Background: The adoption of virtual laboratories (VLs) has experienced a significant surge, catalysed by the global changes in the educational landscape, notably influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally supplementary to traditional in-person laboratory experiments, VLs swiftly transitioned into a primary source of hands-on laboratory…

Alcohol consumption has profound effects on behavior, such as impaired judgment, addiction or even death. It is estimated that alcohol contributes to around three million deaths worldwide, 13.5% of them in young people with ages between 20 and 39 years. Consequently, it is necessary to raise awareness among college and high school students of the…

An effective, practical approach for incorporating molecular biology tools to biology and biochemistry students is described. For 6 weeks, students are exposed to bacterial transformation, plasmid DNA purification and analysis, parasite transfection, ectopic expression of fluorescent proteins, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry analysis.…

Many students find introductory general chemistry courses difficult because they feel alienated by traditional approaches to teaching and learning. This can become particularly problematic in laboratory sessions where students simply follow processes and procedures that students can view as being mundane and lacking creativity. Contextualised…

The chemical experiment in this study is specifically created for undergraduate students studying energy and the environment. The target of the experiment is for students to comprehend the deactivation mechanism of the Ce/TiO[subscript 2] catalyst by oxides of phosphorus through practical experiments and enhance their knowledge of environmental…

The utilization of virtual compound libraries and virtual screening has become a routine method in drug discovery and has accelerated the research of pharmacy and translational medicine. With the development of computer-aided drug design (CADD), it is essential to incorporate virtual experiments into the education of medicinal chemistry. Herein,…

We describe a three-day advanced organic laboratory experience that includes the solid-phase synthesis of an unknown three amino acid polypeptide for junior/senior undergraduate chemistry majors. Students conduct a series of 1D and 2D NMR experiments (HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY) and analyze the data to identify the side chain residues of the peptide and…

In many Global South countries, including South Africa, the adoption of Virtual Lab (VL) remains largely conceptual. This paper emphasizes the necessity of understanding teachers' perceptions of VL before implementation to mitigate risks of abandonment or underutilization post deployment. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989),…

In conventional laboratories, engineering students must attend in person to conduct experiments with real equipment in a physical place, where their work is mainly assessed through self-reports and attendance records. By comparison, online labs can record and analyze students' activities and behaviors automatically. Thus, this article proposes a…

This article describes strategies to adapt and ensure equivalency of content coverage for an existing protein assay laboratory practical for concurrent face-to-face and online deliveries during COVID-19 and beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused several educational challenges. Conducting laboratory experiments was an uphill task during the pandemic. Here, we developed a low-cost and reliable home-based experimental setup to teach column and thin layer chromatography (TLC) using silica gel granules available at home. Powdered silica gel, prepared by grinding…

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Instructional labs: Improving traditions and new directions.] In recent years, physics instructional labs have been under considerable research and development. However, there seems to be no shared understanding of how the assessment of instructional labs should be arranged to best serve students'…

Background: Experiential learning is commonly used in postsecondary settings, especially in undergraduate, agricultural, and laboratory courses. However, a lack of attention has been paid by educators to critical components of experiential learning. Purpose: The effects of reflection mode (peer-verbal or written journal reflection) and transfer…