Assessing ISLE Labs as an Enhancement to Traditional Large‐Lecture Courses at the Ohio State University

At the Ohio State University (OSU), some laboratory sections were replaced with Investigative Science Learning Environment (ISLE) labs during the 3‐quarter calculus‐based introductory physics sequence this past academic year. The ISLE labs have been developed by the PAER Group at Rutgers University; implementation at OSU is discussed, making a direct comparison of OSU students participating in ISLE labs with students in pre‐existing labs under the same large‐lecture instruction. Assessment included diagnostic tests and feedback from a Q‐type instrument. The ISLE environment focuses on helping students develop scientific abilities, so we also administered a voluntary lab ‘practical exam’ aimed at testing if these abilities were gained by the students in the ISLE labs.