CREATING LAB TRACKS TO ACCOMMODATE DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS IN AN INTRODUCTORY LABORATORY CLASS AT A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE

Lab tracks have been incorporated into an introductory Physical Geology laboratory course to address the different learning styles and range of student proficiencies in reading, language, and mathematics encountered at Los Angeles Valley College. Lab tracks are categories of exercises and activities from which students select those needed to complete the required laboratory credit hours. Four lab tracks were created for the Physical Geology laboratory class: Mandatory in-class exercises from the laboratory manual, online interactive exercises, field trips, and individual research projects. All students must complete the activities in the mandatory in-class exercises track, while the remainder of the laboratory credit hours can be earned by selecting any combination of exercises and activities from the three remaining tracks of online interactive exercises, field trips, and individual research projects.

The first lab tracks created for the introductory Physical Geology Laboratory class included mandatory in-class exercises and field-trips. During the following year, the tracks were expanded to include online interactive laboratory exercises, and for the past three semesters, the individual research project has been used to complete the fourth track. The course syllabus includes an electronic class planner to assist students in planning and tracking laboratory exercises and activities as well as completion and submission dates.

Lab tracks are successful in the introductory Physical Geology lab course by allowing students to customize learning to include those activities that interest them while learning the basic required content of the course. Future planned activities include the development of an assessment and implementation tool.