Understanding Student Lab Learning: How Social, Cognitive, & Sensory Loads Impact Anxiety & Confidence in STEM Labs

Horizons in STEM Presentation - Invited talk for LearnSci Teaching Innovation Award winners

Drawing on our studies in Chemistry Higher Education, we explore the extent to which undergraduate students are impacted by cognitive load, sensory load and social pressures in a teaching laboratory environment, and how this impacts learning. We have also created a virtual e-resource to support students, and evaluate its effectiveness in the context of reducing and managing expectations of sensory, social and cognitive load.