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To improve the efficiency of the introductory chemistry laboratory run in an open-lab format, I developed a custom software system that shifts many of the managerial aspects of the lab administration from the instructor currently on duty to a computer. The concept of an open lab is not new, and the advantages of running an open lab for certain chemistry courses versus a traditionally scheduled lab have been described elsewhere (1). One of the arguments against the open lab is the difficulty of running it, managing the student traffic, and keeping accurate and searchable records. This is accomplished automatically by a new program that I designed and implemented in 2004–2005, named LabWhiz. The program features a Java-based1 graphical interface and allows lab instructors to keep track of student attendance in lab, and record information about each student’s lab experience. The graphical interface simulates the disposition of workstations inside the actual lab. Large “buttons” stand in for individual workstations and can be clicked to display an array of in-context options. The laboratory instructor has access to information stored about each student working in lab. The program performs certain tasks, such as assigning unknown samples to students, recording the times of check-in and check-out, and so forth. Certain features are available to the instructor at any time, such as recording events that take place in lab or adjusting points given to students. A relational database2 connects to the user interface and stores the data in appropriate tables. Queries and reports allow the data to be obtained easily at any time by the lab coordinator.3 Statistics about lab usage have been collected using this program and have helped improve the management of the lab, especially in regard to the efficient use of time and instructors. From an organizational point of view, introduction of a computer-based lab management system has meant that instructors were freed from most bookkeeping activities and have been able to use the majority of their time in lab supervising and guiding the students through the experimental activities. Custom implementations of this software are possible for other institutions that might be interested in implementing the open-lab concept, an underused model in undergraduate chemistry. Notes- Java Standard Edition 1.6 and the Swing Framework from Sun Microsystems were used to develop this program.
- Microsoft Access 2003 was used as database product.
- The laboratory instructors do not have access to the database end.
Literature Cited- Godbey, S. E.; Otieno, T.; Tofan, D. C. Open Laboratories in College Science. In The Handbook of the National Science Teachers’ Association, 1st ed., Mintzes, J. J., Leonard, W. H., Eds.; NSTA Press: Arlington, VA, 2006; Chapter 9, pp 87–95; and references therein.
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