The delivery of a REActivity is predicated on the removal of a pre-lab lecture. The proper flow of a typical REActivity lab begins with the student arriving, putting away their bag, jacket, etc. and approaching their station. They can then often begin gathering their materials while waiting for their partner to arrive. If a partner is late or absent, they can be instructed to work with the pair next door. 

Common Questions 

What if my institution has a dedicated pre-lab lecture? 

If your institution has a separate lab lecture hour, one suggestion is using this hour as a post-lab session rather than a pre-lab session to discuss results, surprises, post-lab inquiries, etc. 

What do you recommend for students who are uncomfortable coming into a lab cold? 

You will undoubtedly have some students who really miss the pre-lab lecture or reading assignment and feel they benefit from it and pine its absence. To accommodate those students who feel the need to do something to prepare themselves, many instructors choose to post a short (under 5-8 minutes) YouTube link to a technique that best mirrors the equipment used in their lab to demonstrate the physical aspects of performing the technique covered that week. The virtual lab videos can also be assigned to give students an idea of what to anticipate. Additionally, instructors report that the savviest of students look ahead to the post-lab questions before starting the REActivity and thus can recommend this practice when students approach them with the need for some preparation prior to entering the lab. 

Do you have a question about the self start? 

If so, email us here: cgcsch@rit.edu