Laboratory sessions (‘labs’) are intended to engage students in active scientific inquiry, yet many report feeling disengaged due to a perceived lack of relevance. Here, we explore the possible reasons for disengagement in labs, combining theoretical concepts with student questionnaire responses. The most commonly cited issue (67%) was the absence of a clear connection between lab activities and course content or real-world applications. Additional concerns included unclear instructions, passive participation and instructor disengagement. While the adoption of inquiry-based and student-centered formats may enhance engagement, findings suggest that more immediate improvements could be achieved through clearer lab instructions, stronger integration with theoretical course material, and more explicit framing of each lab's purpose. Supporting strategies include preparatory exercises, contextualized examples, and reflective post-lab discussions. Instructor presence and active student participation are also important. When students understand how labs connect to their broader learning, their motivation may increase—highlighting the importance of relevance in inducing both deep learning and meaningful engagement.
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.