The practical skills passport: a co-curricular program to enhance lab skills confidence in undergraduate neuroscience and biology students.

Abstract

During the years 2020-2022, COVID-19-related restrictions led to fewer in-person lab offerings in Neuroscience and Biology courses, resulting in negative impacts on students' skills and confidence. In this study, we investigate the impact of a co-curricular undergraduate lab skills program, the Practical Skills Passport (PSP), on student lab confidence. PSP tasks were designed based on informal student feedback and refined via pilot testing by postgraduates with no wet lab experience. Sessions were delivered weekly during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years. The impact was evaluated using a survey of students who had attended at least one PSP session. Students at various stages of study in Neuroscience and Biology undergraduate programs attended the PSP. Survey respondents indicated that they felt their confidence in their lab skills improved following PSP attendance. Survey respondents rated the PSP positively overall and expressed interest in attending again. Attendance at the PSP peaked in the first few weeks of semester 1 in each year and declined thereafter, indicating that students are more interested in lab skills practice after returning from the summer break. Fewer students attended in 2022-2023 compared to 2021-2022, probably reflecting the return to all in-person learning as COVID-19 restrictions lifted. In general, "core" lab tasks were more popular in 2021-2022, and specialized tasks were more popular in 2022-2023.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The COVID-19 pandemic reduced opportunities for in-person lab classes, negatively impacting students' skills and confidence. We developed a co-curricular program of lab skills catch-up sessions with the aim of restoring student lab confidence during the return to in-person instruction. Here we describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of this program. Our evaluation indicates that engagement with the program positively impacted student lab confidence.