Advantages
Generates a publishable content (YouTube
video
) that students can use to enhance employability, build collegiate networks, engage with media or translate to a scholarly research
article
. Experiential experiments can afford students a unique opportunity to engage with
practical
and theoretical elements of research design and implementation beyond the classroom that they might otherwise not be able to experience, even in professional practice. This technique lends itself well to any HaSS discipline where scientific enquiry, experiments or lab reporting are relevant.
Challenges
Some students require guidance in selecting a topic. This is solved for by providing some predetermined experiment topics. Time intensive technique to plan and implement, but eases with repeated deliveries and the addition of teaching facilitators, reliable access to appropriate experiment facilities and a course budget commensurate to running the experiments.
Tips for implementation
Some students require guidance in selecting a topic. This is solved for by providing some predetermined experiment topics. Time intensive technique to plan and implement, but eases with repeated deliveries and the addition of teaching facilitators, reliable access to appropriate experiment facilities and a course budget commensurate to running the experiments.
How it supports academic integrity
Experimental design allows students to think laterally about investigating a topic they are interested in, and take ownership over designing an experiment that addresses these areas. Students can choose to replicate an existing study, but must still show evidence of an original and contemporary adaptation. These are difficult tasks to outsource to
essay
mills/banks, even in specialist fields.