Click Before You Pipette: Building Foundational Pipetting Skills and Confidence With an Interactive Prelaboratory...

Area of Science:

• Life Sciences Education
• Biotechnology Training
• Laboratory Skills Development

Background:

• Manual air displacement micropipettes are crucial lab tools, but accurate use is challenging for students.
• Incorrect volume delivery impacts experimental results and student confidence.
• Current training often prioritizes physical technique over the cognitive skill of reading the dial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an interactive simulation for mastering micropipette dial reading.
• To address the gap in scalable digital tools for the cognitive aspects of micropipette use.
• To improve student confidence and accuracy in a cost-effective manner.

Main Methods:

• Developed an interactive simulation using Articulate Storyline.
• Employed a pre-post mixed methods design to assess student performance and perceptions.
• Measured changes in confidence, unit conversion, and dial reading accuracy.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated significant improvements in self-rated confidence and accuracy.
• Positive student feedback highlighted the simulation's benefits for skill acquisition and self-efficacy.
• The simulation effectively isolated and improved the cognitive task of reading micropipette dials.

Conclusions:

• The interactive simulation is a scalable, cost-effective preparatory tool for life science students.
• Mastering the cognitive skill in a virtual environment enhances readiness for hands-on practice.
• This approach supports blended learning, boosting student performance and confidence in laboratory settings.