Lessons learnt – The role of peer-to-peer lecture films in a first year material science laboratory course

Abstract

At HTW Berlin material science is taught to first year students in combination with laboratory exercises on materials testing. Still, basic knowledge upon theory is necessary to work practically during lab sessions. Therefore homework reading is assigned and additionally lecture films guide students through the laboratory routine prior to class. Initially inspired by students these lecture films were conducted during a one term student semester project according to the peer-to-peer approach supervised by lecturers and film experts. Since establishing the lecture films in summer semester 2015 time consuming explanations were redundant and the students were prepared better gaining more knowledge during practical work than those who did not have access to the films. After watching the introductory films download activities increased and online lectures were prepared carefully. However, the initial increase in final test results is not valid taken into account all grades from 2015 up to now. Still, even if the academic output is not better with our without the implementation of lecture films, the better handling of laboratory equipment and the more smoothly running lab courses account for at least a part time success.