Suggested Approaches to Laboratory Courses during the Pandemic
University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder College of Arts & Sciences Laboratory Teaching Subcommittee
Committee Members: Kathryn Arehart, Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences (SLHS); Pamela Harvey, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology (MCDB); Heather Lewandowski, JILA/Physics; Chris Link, Integrative Physiology (IPHY); Kevin Rich, Theater & Dance; and Jacquie Richardson, Chemistry
Disclaimer: The following should not be considered an endorsement of any decisions made by the University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ administration regarding the timing and nature of on-site instruction of courses offered on the Boulder campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document was prepared on Friday, June 5, 2020 and does not reflect public health information or direction from the University made available after this date.
Purpose
The aim of this document is to provide structure and resources for faculty who are teaching laboratory courses while faced with safety considerations during the current pandemic. It was prepared with life and physical science laboratories in mind and may require adaptation for performance arts and clinical lab settings. Departments should use this document as a guide to adopt safety requirements to best serve their students’ needs. Two main categories of considerations have been identified: the decision to move curriculum online and the safety of students and teaching staff. The College of Arts and Sciences convened a group of faculty members from six different departments to provide resources for safely offering in-person laboratory experiences for undergraduates. Below are questions faculty members may ask themselves to prepare for this transition with resources for achieving curricular flexibility.