Online Safety Quiz for Interactive Revision Reveals Areas for Laboratory Safety Development in Second-Year Undergraduate Chemistry

Abstract

General safety and chemical training of undergraduate students is typically held at the first-year level. In this technology report, we propose a flexible strategy to improve students' general knowledge of safety for a second-year inorganic chemistry laboratory. The strategy is composed of an online interactive revision approach through the implementation of a Safety Template quiz, that is easily used on a range of devices and is thus flexible for students and academics. Details of the design process, technical aspects of implementation, and analysis of student submissions for 2018-2019 are presented. Results showed that low numbers of students (18%) achieved 100% correct completion of the Safety Template quiz with their first submission. However, most students (98%) could achieve 100% correct completion by their third submission. Using an online device agnostic approach, implementation of the Safety Template quiz contributed to some improvement of student knowledge and safe behavior in laboratory sessions. A need was identified for students to regularly and actively revise their safety knowledge in upper level undergraduate chemistry, particularly in the areas of basic chemical knowledge of solvents, maintenance of proper PPE, and correct identification of safety equipment.