Despite the professed central role chemistry laboratory classes take in post-secondary chemistry education, evidence supporting its role in learning remains relatively scarce.  Measurements capable of capturing the multiple components, complexities, and interactions between the moving parts of tertiary level laboratories remain elusive. Previous work demonstrates mindfulness and mindlessness emerge in the laboratory setting, and thus presents Langer’s Mindfulness Theory (MFT) as a useful lens, and overarching theory capable of capturing the complexities and nuances of learning in the lab.  Mindfulness and mindlessness are defined dichotomously. Mindfulness is highlighted by the act of drawing distinctions, thus orienting learners in the present, leading to sensitivity to context and perspective of learning.  Mindlessness on the other hand is characterized by automatic, programmed behaviors.  Students learning mindlessly are stuck in the past in singular, rigid perspectives where rules and routines predetermine rather than guide behavior. Mindful learners exhibit behaviors that mirror experts when problem solving. With respect to chemical education, mindful learning allows students to draw new connections and construct new knowledge structures. Further, mindfulness enhances students’ receptiveness and ability to process new information, which learning theories view as fundamental for meaningful learning. Herein, we present a deep analysis from multiple institutes and multiple programs, using the lens of mindfulness theory (MFT).  The goal of this work is to highlight characteristics of the laboratory learning environment that allow students to engage learning mindfully or mindlessly.  We then use MFT to connect curricula design with how students engage learning in the laboratory, distilling qualities of curricula that encourage mindful and mindless learning.

Emergence of mindfulness and mindlessness in multiple, diverse laboratory environments and its impacts on evidence-based curricula design

2019 Spring National Meeting

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