Lab and fieldwork are among the most valuable opportunities learners have to engage in authentic tasks, address complex problems, and to gain relevant skills. Technology is increasingly used in support of practical learning:

• ahead of time for planning and preparation, and to ensure students make the most of their valuable time in the field/lab
• during study, to provide supporting information or guide activities, and to help learners capture processes and outcomes for later review
• after practice, to support problem solving, data analysis, rich representations/reporting of activities, and reflection

 While digital representations cannot replace real-world practice, increasingly real-world practice takes place in settings that are saturated with technology, especially for data capture and analysis. Realistic representations of practice can also have value in rehearsing skills ahead of time, and in allowing experiences to be revisited and reviewed afterwards.

Because students first experiment on-line there is a reduced chance of cognitive overload during the practical and they are more able to concentrate on the wider aims of the experiment, rather than blindly following the lab instructions.

Most importantly our work has resulted in our biggest ever recorded increase in student satisfaction with laboratory work.

(eBioLabs)

The GIS students responded positively to the implementation of the institutional "GIS laboratory in the field‟, especially in its ability to reduce the time between the collection of primary data and its analysis and being able to complete projects while still in the field... All fieldtrip cohorts appreciated the role that personal technologies could play in enhancing their participation in learning activities, and there was significant engagement with the GIS Collaboratory mashup. (MORSE)

Case studies

• ESCAPE case study - Peer assessment: engaging students with the assessment criteria
• Information Spaces for Creative Conversations case study Year 1 at City University
• Information Spaces for Creative Conversations case study Year 2 at City University
• Information Spaces for Creative Conversations case study Year 2 context
• Information Spaces for Creative Conversations case study Year 1 at Middlesex Univesrity
• Atelier-D Using an Online Design Studio Environment
• Atelier_D Mapping of Design Thinking and Practice
• Atelier-D Collaborative Design in Second Life
• Atelier-D Social Network for Design Learners
• Atelier_D Conferencing to Support Collaborative Group Work
• Atelier-D Peer Asessment in Design

Staff development resources

• Atelier-D guide Facebook
• Atelier-D guide Compendium
• Atelier-D guide Elluminate 
• Atelier-D guide Second Life
• Atelier-D guide Flickr
• Atelier-D guide OpenDesignStudio
• G4 case creation training documentation
• ISCC Top tips for recording feedback
• ISCC Guide for students
• SpringboardTV designing the learner journey
• SpringboardTV developing essential vocational skills

Technologies which have particularly been used to enhance practical learning include:

mobile technologies

immersive worlds

capturing learning and teaching activities

Media Enhanced Learning