Digitally Enhanced Chunk & Check Learning: An Innovative, Instructor-Friendly Approach Powered by an Open-Source Tool for Effective Laboratory Instruction and Formative Assessment
Keywords:
chunk & check learning; laboratory; collaborative learning; formative assessment; Google WorkspaceAbstract
This study introduces digitally enhanced chunk & check learning, an innovative, user-friendly framework for active learning and formative assessment in laboratory instruction. Chunk & check learning uses familiar Google Workspace applications—Google Slides, Google Forms, and Google Sheets—for easy adoption. Central to this approach is the custom-built “Chunk & Check Creator”, which automatically segments instructional content into discrete learning chunks on Google Slides, each paired with formative assessment quizzes delivered through Google Forms. Students unlock subsequent chunks only after completing preceding quizzes and receiving instructor approval, ensuring mastery before progression. Instructors can monitor student learning progress in real-time through dynamic dashboards in Google Sheets, facilitating timely and targeted feedback. Implemented in a pharmaceutical science laboratory with 158 students and 13 instructors, the approach received high satisfaction ratings (students: 4.70/5 for approach, 4.56/5 for tools; instructors: 4.91/5). Students reported increased engagement, improved interaction with peers and instructors, and deeper understanding. Instructors valued real-time tracking and automation. Academic outcomes were strong, with formative quiz scores averaging over 90% and a final exam average of 72.40%. The open-source Chunk & Check Creator is freely available at https://tinyurl.com/Chunkcheckcreator, offering an effective, scalable, low-overhead solution for digital pedagogy.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.12.1
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