The course provides instruction in standard laboratory practice, writing, and communication skills. All equipment is operated under the direct supervision of a laboratory instructor. The techniques and procedures required to complete the assignments are taught at the beginning of each individual experiment by the instructor. The expected format of laboratory reports follows written guidelines and is similar to the style of communication in a technical journal. One of the reports is actually written in the style of a complete technical journal.
Some instruction is provided via lecture on the statistical analysis of experimental data.
The use of personal computers for analyzing data and preparing laboratory reports is taught in detail in MSE 2094. This background is used extensively in this course.