Evaluating the impact of a laboratory teaching innovation: the case of the Bioskills at home kit.

Abstract

Practical laboratory training is a key component of biosciences education, essential for developing critical skills and bridging the gap between theory and practice. The 'Bioskills at home kit', originally developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, was created to support first-year students in developing core laboratory skills at a time when access to in-person sessions was limited. Each kit contained equipment and guided activities focused on pipetting, microscopy, experimental design and microbial growth curve analysis. This study aimed to assess the educational impact of this kit using a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected across three student cohorts (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2024/25) using surveys and a focus group and analysed using appropriate statistical analyses and reflexive thematic analysis, respectively. The study evaluated the impact of the Bioskills at home kit on student learning across the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. Aspects of student experience, including perceived benefits, barriers to engagement and suggestions for improvement, were investigated, and student attainment from a compulsory laboratory assessment spanning seven academic years (2018/19-2024/25) was analysed. Results show that students experienced improved understanding of theoretical concepts, confidence, enjoyment and enhanced technical skills. Student attainment in practical assessment was also improved. Embedding the delivery of the kit in a more structured way within the personal tutorial system in subsequent years improved student engagement which was a challenge during the first year of intervention. Here, we demonstrate the successful implementation of the Bioskills at home kit which offers a scalable and inclusive model for flexible laboratory teaching.