Imagine a scenario where you need to deliver lab practicals to 1200 students. That was the challenge facing Dr Glenda Norman, Chief Technician at the University of Witwatersrand. With up to 90 students in the lab simultaneously, delivering practical, hands-on lab experiences is no mean feat. Her team had to be efficient while ensuring that each student engaged with the experiments meaningfully. Glenda’s team relied on LabTutor for many years, but the system’s limitations became apparent as time passed, prompting the decision to transition to LabStation.
Glenda Norman
Challenges with LabTutor
Glenda’s lab first adopted LabTutor back in the days of Windows XP, and although it initially served its needs, the department's labs soon outgrew the system."While LabTutor met our needs for a long time, adapting the experiments required some creativity and collaboration. Thankfully, I had a great team to help navigate those challenges, and we could always find solutions that worked for us."
Although LabTutor supported the team’s needs for a long time, one limitation was the structured nature of LabTutor’s experiment design. Glenda’s team aimed to combine elements from related experiments into a cohesive session, particularly for complex topics like cardiovascular systems. LabTutor’s format encouraged students to explore experiments individually, which, while structured, didn’t always align with the team’s vision for a more seamless learning experience.
The Move to LabStation
Recognizing the need for a more flexible and user-friendly solution, Glenda decided to transition to LabStation. One of the most significant improvements with LabStation was the ease of combining experiments. This allowed Glenda and her team to streamline lab sessions, offering students a more integrated experience. For example, cardiovascular labs involving ECG readings, blood pressure measurements, and heart sound analysis could now be merged into a single experiment, improving learning efficiency and engagement. "LabStation makes it so much easier to amalgamate experiments the way our academics prefer," Glenda explains. "Instead of switching between different experiments, we can now combine everything into one practical session, giving students a much smoother experience.” This consolidation of experiments made life easier for the academic staff. It allowed students to engage more deeply with the material, focusing on the science rather than getting distracted by the logistics of switching between different experiments.
“LabStation is far easier to work with than LabTutor, and the range of experiments available is much wider. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a flexible, user-friendly solution."
Overcoming Transition Challenges
Despite the potential hurdles of moving from one system to another, Glenda’s transition to LabStation was smooth. A key factor was the support provided by ADInstruments and LASEC. Regular communication ensured Glenda’s team was constantly informed of updates and prepared for changes. Additionally, the familiarity with LabTutor meant that the learning curve for LabStation was not steep. A workshop provided by ADInstruments made the transition even easier, which helped Glenda and her colleagues quickly get up to speed.
While the transition was seamless, Glenda emphasizes the importance of academic engagement in making it successful. Her lab benefited from the enthusiasm of three new lecturers willing to sit down, review the available experiments, and help shape practicals according to their teaching needs.
Key Benefits of LabStation
The move to LabStation brought with it several clear benefits:
- Ease of Use: LabStation’s user-friendly interface eliminated the technical challenges Glenda had faced with LabTutor. Features like auto-scaling and intuitive measurement tools meant that staff and students could focus more on the experiments.
- Flexibility in Experiment Design: LabStation allowed the seamless integration of different experiment sections into one, removing the need for disruptive switches between separate sessions. This was particularly beneficial for complex, multi-part experiments such as those covering cardiovascular physiology.
- Enhanced Student Engagement: With LabStation, students could dive deeper into their experiments. The simplified process encouraged them to take accurate measurements and thoroughly engage with the material.
Reliability and Scalability: Having invested heavily in PowerLab systems, Glenda’s lab needed a solution that worked with their existing infrastructure.
The move to LabStation also brought about measurable benefits. The simplified system encouraged students to spend more time perfecting their measurements, and with fewer technical distractions, the lab sessions became more focused and efficient.
A Smooth and Successful Transition
Glenda’s lab transitioned from LabTutor to LabStation with remarkable success. The system’s user-friendly design, flexibility, and strong support from ADInstruments made it a perfect fit for her lab’s growing needs. Today, Glenda confidently recommends LabStation to other institutions facing similar challenges. For labs that deal with large student numbers, complex experiment setups, or require scalability, LabStation is a proven, reliable choice that simplifies practical education without sacrificing quality.
Dr Glenda Norman
Chief Technician
School of Physiology
University of Witwatersrand
