Lab Learning Hits the Web

Lab classes at the University of Minnesota are getting a futuristic facelift, thanks to a partnership of the Digital Learning Group (DLG) and Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

The two groups are working together to make portions of the University's most popular clinical laboratory sciences courses available online. Hands-on exercises and experiments will still take place on campus, but lectures, pre-lab tutorials, and simulations will be available online.

The technology achieves multiple goals, says Joe Mayo-Cullen, marketing and business manager of the DLG.

"The Web-based lectures and tutorials make curriculum consistent," he says. "The fact that students can view the clips any time, anywhere, and as often as they need in order to grasp concepts means that learning is both convenient and tailored to different styles."

To ensure that the online curriculum complements the in-lab exercises, the DLG is collaborating closely with Clinical Laboratory Sciences faculty, who serve as subject-matter experts and appear in the videos. Sixteen courses are set to launch in the upcoming academic year. Subject matter includes the basics of clinical lab sciences, examining blood and bone marrow, and diagnosing infectious and metabolic diseases and viral and parasitic infections.

The courses will be offered at the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minn. campuses simultaneously, with the hope of expanding availability to other campuses and possibly other schools. The DLG is a team in the School of Public Health that provides solutions in the ever-evolving world of technologically enhanced learning. The group has expertise in data-driven Web solutions, instructional design, course development, online conferencing, and more.

To learn more about the DLG, go to cpheo1.sph.umn.edu/dlg.