Association for Biology Laboratory Education

Lab Notebook POGIL (process-oriented guided-inquiry learning) activity
    

Megan F. Cole

Advances in Biology Laboratory Education, 2026, Volume 46

https://doi.org/10.37590/able.v46.abs23

Abstract

Participants will do and then discuss a POGIL (process-oriented guided-inquiry learning) activity about maintaining a lab notebook. The POGIL learning objectives are to have students be able to 1) write an appropriate lab notebook entry to include title, date, author, purpose, methods, results and conclusions, 2) describe uses of notebooks in research projects, and 3) improve their scientific communication skills. Participants will complete the POGIL and then discuss how to implement the activity in their own lab classes. This POGIL has been used in a lab class with hundreds of students across different lab sections. It has been helpful to do in the first lab period before the end of add/drop/swap as although it is best completed in person working with lab partners individual students can also complete it on their own if they register for the class later. Participants will have a copy of the POGIL to use or modify for their own lab classes.

Keywords:  POGIL, notebook, writing, communication

University of Manitoba (2025)