Lab@Home: Individualised computer-lab courses

Abstract

The pandemic that occurred in 2020 also caused a lockdown at universities and the relocation of teaching to the digital space. In the area of the chemistry and food chemistry degree programmes, this is only partially possible. The laboratory courses in particular convey core skills that cannot be acquired in any other way than in presence. Computer-lab courses, on the other hand, can be relocated to the home computer with a good underlying concept. We present our concept here, which has made it possible to conduct computer experiments from the fields of quantum chemistry and statistical thermodynamics as a Lab@Home computer-lab courses. Individualised tasks, controlled pre-production of numerical results, continuous communication with the students and extensive use of digital teaching methods were the decisive foundations for successful implementation.