From In-Class Experiments to Lab@Home for General Chemistry Laboratory: Hands-On Experiences During the Pandemic Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in early 2020, forced educational institutions in Thailand to chiefly rely on online learning during the government mandated lockdown for almost two academic years. Although migration to the online format seems to suit lectures, it is inadequate for laboratory courses since students could not do the experiment themselves. To overcome this deficiency, four existing in-class experiments in General Chemistry Laboratory courses at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University were extensively revised to be Lab@Home format. Extra activities and design-your-own-lab were also included in every experiment. These experiments were prepared and bundled in two Lab@Home kits (<US$4 per kit), one for each semester, and sent to over 800 enrolling students twice by supportive staff. The self-evaluation of learning outcomes was satisfactory (4.26 +/- 0.16 out of 5 from five experiments). Students' feedback affirmed that hands-on experiences partook in a better knowledge acquisition since they witnessed the results and could develop their learning process much better than concluding something from merely watching videos. Moreover, the design-your-own-lab allowed them to gather information from their classmates, thus broadening their insight. They also acknowledged the act of caring, and many expressed their gratitude for the department's effort to deliver this experience. This Lab@ Home project is not only beneficial for students' learning but also an excellent opportunity for supportive staff to execute a sizable and challenging project.