WHAT IS IT?
Students participate in inquiry-based laboratory experiments and apply advanced tools and techniques used in research labs. These opportunities are not partnered, students engage with their course instructor and peers to complete their advanced laboratory experience.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Eligibility:
- Advanced laboratory experiences have specific eligibility criteria that differ depending on the course or program of study to which they are connected.
Duration:
- Advanced laboratory experiences can last from a few hours to a number of days or weeks over the course of an academic term. The timelines vary and will be set within your course.
Recognition and / or compensation:
- Advanced laboratory experiences are unpaid opportunities, students receive academic credit as part of a course.
Accessibility:
- Inclusion in EL is achieved when an experience supports learning for all students. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the University of Toronto has a commitment to an equitable learning environment for people with disabilities. It is important to engage in an interactive process to determine the optimal and most appropriate accommodations for individual students engaged in experiential learning.
- If a student requires an accommodation related to an advanced laboratory learning opportunity, you may wish to connect with one of the accessibility services offices at the University of Toronto. Staff at these offices will advise you on the disclosure of accommodation requirements as well as support you through the process of determining and negotiating effective accommodations for the student’s individual circumstances.
- Student support offices strive to create a safe and comfortable community where students have opportunities to discuss navigating barriers, find peer support and learn about various academic and social opportunities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Review the Guidelines & Procedures page to further understand which partnership agreements, insurance and liability coverage and health and safety policies are applicable to advanced laboratory experiences. The Experiential Learning Risk Management Matrix provides a one-page overview.
- Students engaging in an advanced laboratory experience (for credit), receive workplace insurance coverage through the University or Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
- Students engaging in an advanced laboratory experience (for credit) have general liability coverage through the University.
BENEFITS
- Students have the opportunity to integrate their theoretical learning through practical application.
- Advance laboratory experiences allow students to take a laboratory project through the multiple stages of development and gain a sense of accountability.
- In advanced laboratory courses, students gain an understanding of the range of current experimental approaches used to design, test and evaluate hypotheses and communicate findings.
- Students receive supervised guidance over an extended period of time, leading to deeper learning and skill development.