Introductory physics labs have traditionally focused on reinforcing lecture content through hands-on activities. However, research has shown that focusing on this skill in labs is not particularly effective in deepening students’ understanding of lecture material. The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) made a set of recommendations in 2014 for goals of undergraduate physics labs that foster the development of many key 21st century skills and competencies. The core scientific skills emphasized include constructing knowledge, modeling, designing experiments, developing technical and practical laboratory skills, analyzing and visualizing data, and communicating physics.
Together with a few colleagues, I began redesigning our lab curriculum in 2018 to better align with the AAPT learning outcomes. We implemented the new labs in Autumn 2021 and have continuously refined them to enhance skill development and student engagement. In this seminar, I will present our pedagogical goals and share examples of lab activities designed to cultivate scientific skills among introductory physics students.