Abstract:

In the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the autonomy and self-learning of the student so that forges knowledge individually and collectively have been largely promoted. This has generated a number of innovative methodologies for teaching and learning, many of them in “test phase" that attempt to facilitate the processing of information and the acquisition of skills. However, the Covid19 pandemic caused the popularization and consolidation of many of these innovative methodologies, especially those linked to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), thus taking them to the "implementation phase" allowing to see the potential in autonomy and in the teaching-learning process of students. One of these didactic tools is video, which has proven to be ideal in the transmission of theoretical concepts and procedures due to its audiovisual impact and informative power.

Chemistry is an experimental science, in which the practices in the laboratory have an indisputable importance in the understanding of the theoretical concepts. However, sometimes the didactic material (laboratory instructions) used can generate doubts about the steps to follow or the use of the specific material to be used in each practice. This makes it difficult to correctly assimilate concepts and acquire technical skills, reducing the likelihood that the intended learning outcomes will actually be achieved.

In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of viewing pre-laboratory videos, on the acquisition of specific skills related to work in the laboratory. For this purpose, pre-laboratory videos were developed providing both visual demonstrations with audio explanations to reinforce each practical step. Likewise, and in order to ensure understanding of the practical concepts, the students were followed up through mandatory pre-laboratory electronic questionnaires (e-quiz). Finally, the effectiveness of the study was evaluated by academic performance and an attitudinal survey. The results allow to conclude that these previous activities (watch videos and answer a e-quiz) have improved significantly the practical skills acquisition.

Keywords:

e-learning Projects and Experiences, Laboratory Instruction, pre-laboratory videos, higher education, skills acquisition.