The educational effects of group work facilitation and peer support in basic laboratory training

Abstract

In 2018, our university abolished the oral examination that was conducted after labs and introduced group work facilitated by the second-year students. They provided peer support and guidance to the first-year students in the basic laboratory training. The educational effects of the introduction of group work on second-year students were examined by the SCAT (Steps for Coding and Theorization) analysis of the reports and performance self-evaluation of performance with a rubric. The results showed that the second-year students of 2018 who served as facilitators developed problem finding and solving skills, behavioral skills to implement instructional methods, and an increased awareness of education more than those of 2017. The effects on first-year student performance in labs were verified with the results of the second-year students’ rubric assessments of them. There was evidence that the first-year students in 2018 developed thinking skills and problem finding and solving skills in labs through the group work.