A comparison of undergraduate microbiology laboratory/practical coursework in France and the USA.
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Laboratory courses in higher education are widely known to be essential in preparing students for careers in STEM, yet how they are implemented in undergraduate degrees is not widely reported. This pilot study compared undergraduate microbiology lab courses at two US, and two French higher educational institutions in 2019. Interviews with faculty revealed similarities such as 14-20 students per lab section. However, US lab courses were at least twice as long as French ones (40-60h vs 4.5-25h except for honors courses). In shorter lab courses (around 14h total), students followed protocols and observed outcomes for controlled samples. Courses over 20h included open-ended work such as environmental sample examination and identification. Only the 60h lab course was inquiry-based. Students at all sites were surveyed online after course completion for self-reported competencies. At both US sites they reported a higher confidence than at French sites for “Expertise in Theoretical Knowledge” and “Documenting measurements”, while for all sites “Competence in Cooperation” ranked in the top 5 skills that students reported as improved. This study constitutes a snapshot of the microbiology lab courses in undergraduate education in two different countries. It could inform decisions about future lab course development, hopefully reinvigorating investment in lab course experiences.
