Computer-equipped structured labs

Structured labs are the place where the Department's instructional personnel (specifically, TAs) have the most direct contact with its students. They are also a place where each student has access to a computer. These labs provide an ideal environment for proctored non-lecture instructional activities, especially experiential activities.

Ideas for improving the effectiveness of structured labs:

• Try pair programming. Random partners or students choose or pairing strong student with weak ones.
• Labs should be primarily for skill-building drills.
• Use video-based instruction.
• Do on-line testing, both drill-oriented and assessment-oriented.

Even more elaborate ideas can be found in [R25].