Each summer, elementary teachers conduct short projects in research labs under the guidance of their scientist partners. The program strives for the right mix of science background information to prepare adult learners for lab experiences and tries to clear up misconceptions held by scientists and non-scientists about each other. The workshop participants described a variety of models for research-based courses that have different requirements of laboratory space and faculty participation. Some programs placed individual students under the direction of a faculty mentor for the completion of an open-ended research program. Others have up to 60 students in a research course with common laboratory facilities.
Students investigate their own questions under the direction of a course director.
Short, intensive programs in lab research can offer a unique experience to undergraduates. Click here to view the original biographical summaries, abstracts, and issues to consider. I liked the experience of starting with a scientific question, developing it into a full-fledged experiment and eventually finding out the answer. Atlanta medical institutions provide lab time for Spelman College students who are guided by a faculty member. And the college offers an alternative to the individual research project by providing classes of 15 students who work on a single research project with a faculty member.