From know-how to know-why: Lab-created learning

Why do some programs of study build lab work into the curriculum? Although courses across a wide variety of disciplines traditionally include lab work, there is little consistency in how those labs (even within the same discipline) are configured and even less conversation about the value of lab work to student learning. Generally speaking, labs are typically intended to help students develop procedural skills (manipulate tools, for example), explore the processes of scientific experimentation, and link theory to practice [1,2]. While most educators would agree that these goals - procedural skills, experimentation, and theoretical understanding - are listed from least-to-most important, the unfortunate truth is that they are also listed in order of easiest-to-most-difficult for both teaching and learning. This paper will describe how the learning activities and the technological configurations of labs can be re-thought to address challenges for learning and for access.