Challenges of Teaching Lab Science Online

There are unique challenges to teaching an online science course that has a laboratory component. Online laboratory courses have specific and significant issues that are different from other content areas. According to focus groups conducted by IEDSE, issues specific to online lab science courses include:

  • How to ensure safety
  • How to track lab-based student progress
  • How to establish formative assessments of lab progress throughout the course
  • How to illustrate laboratory techniques online, and
  • How to confirm students are correctly conducting laboratory experiments


Some pioneering online science instructors have conquered these challenges, and IEDSE is tapping into their expertise to develop a practical professional development program.

IEDSE's goal is to become a national leader and clearinghouse for professional development and research related to distance science education at the secondary and post-secondary levels.