Questions Frequently Asked by U-M GSIs

Portions of this section adapted from Gale and Andrews (1989) as described in Black, Gach, and Kotzian (1996)

Goals of the Course

Every laboratory class has goals that may be particular to that course and it is important to find out those goals before classes begin. For example, in the introductory physics laboratory students learn “how to apply the concepts learned in lectures to physical systems” while in the introductory chemistry laboratory students engage in “developing principles from data.” A general goal that pertains to most labs is to “make a connection between the theoretical elements of a discipline and the practical aspects of the technical performance.” Most laboratory instruction addresses these three common objectives: Read more »

The Seven Principles Resource Center
Winona State University

The Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education grew out of a review of 50 years of research on the way teachers teach and students learn (Chickering and Gamson, 1987, p. 1) and a conference that brought together a distinguished group of researchers and commentators on higher education.  The primary goal of the Principles’ authors was to identify practices, policies, and institutional conditions that would result in a powerful and enduring undergraduate education (Sorcinelli, 1991, p. 13).

The following principles are anchored in extensive research about teaching, learning, and the college experience.