Digital Learning in MIT Junior Lab

The 8.13/8.14 Junior Lab sequence is one of the core elements of the MIT Physics undergraduate curriculum, introducing students to the art and science of obtaining, analyzing and communicating experimental data. For many students, Junior Lab becomes one of the formative steps in their career. It is also a microcosm of the MIT experience: Ultimately rewarding, but challenging and with a somewhat daunting reputation of consuming all available time.

This project proposes to reshape the learning approach of the MIT Physics Junior Lab by embedding this residential laboratory class in the edX framework. The goal is to improve the efficiency of student learning of core skills in experimental science, while enhancing the students’ lab experience. The collaborative nature of the edX platform will allow this project to impact physics lab instruction on a wide scale even outside of MIT. While often seen as a content delivery tool for non-­‐residential audiences, edX also holds great promise for residential learning environments.