Remote Laboratory Exercise to Develop Micropipetting Skills.

Area of Science:

• Biology Education
• Biotechnology
• Remote Learning

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to remote learning models in education.
• Remote instruction presents significant challenges for teaching practical laboratory skills in biology due to safety concerns and equipment costs.
• Traditional laboratory equipment and safety protocols are often prohibitive for remote biology education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a cost-effective, remote laboratory exercise for teaching micropipette usage.
• To provide an accessible alternative for biology students to acquire essential technical skills remotely.
• To address the limitations of remote learning in practical biological sciences.

Main Methods:

• A remote laboratory exercise was designed using inexpensive, readily available materials for micropipette training.
• Students completed the exercise outside of a traditional laboratory setting.
• The effectiveness was evaluated through student surveys assessing learning objectives and confidence in technique.

Main Results:

• The majority of students reported achieving the intended learning objectives.
• Students expressed increased confidence in their micropipette skills after completing the remote exercise.
• The developed method proved to be simple, cost-effective, and adaptable.

Conclusions:

• The remote micropipette laboratory exercise is an effective solution for teaching essential biology lab skills.
• This approach overcomes major impediments to remote practical science education.
• The methodology is highly adaptable for various educational settings and disciplines requiring technical skills training.