Science students' success and completion by course delivery format: lab vs. non-lab based formats

Abstract

This study explored the success and completion rates of lab/lecture science courses compared to other formats at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) over the past five years. At CVTC, science courses are offered in the following formats: lab/lecture, lecture only, hybrid, online, and web conferencing. Recent changes have caused some of the courses to be re-classified into a different delivery format due to state-wide curriculum changes or by institutional decision to fit the needs of the individual programs. This study proposed that the students in the lab/lecture delivery formats will have higher success and completion rates than students in courses where the delivery formats do not include a laboratory component. The results of the study showed that students in lab/lecture classes at CVTC did indeed have an overall higher success and completion rate than the students in non-lab based delivery formats. Further, the lab component was seen to be especially beneficial to new or at-risk students.