Under the Microscope: Review of the Research on Biological Lab Experiences, 1987-2007

• In Event: High School Biology: Investigations in Learning and Instruction

Abstract

We report here on results from a study of the English-language, peer-reviewed research literature for the period 1987-2007 on life-science laboratory experiences. We explored to what extent the research literature addressed not only the learning of specific concepts but also the growth of biological reasoning, particularly with respect to characteristics of living systems that philosophers of biology have suggested are unique to biology. We asked To what extent does the research base:
1. Provide evidence of the value of labs to support learning for various constituencies of interest (e.g. students differing by gender, learning styles, ethnicity)?
2. Address a range of topics across grade levels
3. Show how labs foster biological reasoning with respect to distinctive characteristics of biological systems?

Authors

• Brian E. Drayton, TERC

• Gillian M. Puttick, TERC

• Meaghan Donovan, TERC