Chemistry labs often emphasize performing experiments, illustrating concepts learned in lectures, and collecting data over acquiring technical skills students will have to master in their careers. Lab reports reflect the aptitude for data collection and interpretation without much concern about whether or not proper techniques were used to gather these data and, consequently, whether or not an interpretation is even possible. Lab exam questions often probe the memorization of some aspects of the experiments or the capacity to perform calculations similar to calculations found in problems covered in lectures, and practical exams are evaluated on the results, not on the assessment of observed technical skills. Because of the lack of emphasis on the proper use of the equipment and on acquiring strong technical skills, students are often unable to provide reliable evaluations of their data and rapidly lose faith in the value of their results and of the lab component altogether. They tend to see the lab as a mandatory exercise of lab supplies & equipment manipulation. In addition, students may be under the impression that they master technical lab skills, and may find themselves facing a harsh reality on their first job. This presentation will discuss the use of digital badges to credential chemistry students’ technical lab skills. This methodical badging process is articulated around a three-T concept: 1) Training on technical skills provided to the students along with the set of criteria used for the assessment, so that the students know what to focus on for each technique, 2) Tracking of the training in which the students record their training for further reviews and the instructor provides documented feedback, and 3) Testing after the training period where the students individually demonstrate their level of mastery of each technique. The presentation will describe the implementation of this lab skill badging process in general chemistry labs and will provide the audience with tools to build their own digital credentialing system and promote their students‘ confidence in their technical lab skills.

Stop grading redundant lab reports! Certify your students’ technical lab skills through digital badging

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ACS Spring 2023

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