Shawn Carlson Reports on Results of LABRats Pilot Program

Early results are in!

Several weeks ago we passed the first phase of the Labrats pilot program—the eighth meeting of Synergy aaa.

For this first session, Synergy aaa consisted of twelve kids ages 11-14 with nine boys and three girls. They were divided into three Groups of four members each. The girls and one boy made up the Atom Splitters. The other Groups decided to call themselves the Radioactive Cows and the Strange Quarks.

So far, the meetings have focused almost entirely on science demonstrations and experiments that the members get to do themselves. I've been experimenting a great deal with different presentation formats that could be used by any adult who wanted to run a Labrats Synergy. This means that I've learned a lot of things about what not to do, and the program has not had any of the most important elements like merit-based advancement, field trips, mentor involvement, or leadership training. So if there is a stage that I would expect the members to be dissatisfied, this first session was it.

I thought you'd like to learn how the kids graded their experience so far.

Simply put, they loved it!

All twelve members registered for Session Two. That's 100 percent retention! However, only ten members could make the final meeting of the session. When these members were asked to rate their overall experience on a scale from 1 to 10, the average rating was 9.5 (that includes dropping the 15 one member gave the program to the maximum allowable 10).

Here's a summary of how they answered the rest of the questions:

What did you like most about Labrats so far?
1 Everything 1
2 Experiments 4
3 Learn new things 2
4 Discussions 1
5 "It was fun and cool and, like yeah!" 1

What did you like least about Labrats so far?
1 Nothing 6
2 Having a photographer on the first day 3
3 Lectures 1

Are you coming back for Session II.
Yes 10
No 0

Why or why not?
1 It was fun 6
2 I enjoy learning 3
3 Being with friends 2
4 "It rocks" 2

During Session One, the activity I enjoyed the most was:
1 Rubber band airplanes 5
2 Extracting DNA from a cow tongue 3
3 Smash goes the can 1
4 Mousetrap bomb 1

The activity I enjoyed the least was:
1 Extracting DNA from a cow tongue 3
2 Nothing. I liked everything 2
3 Making a barometer 1
4 Optical illusions 1
5 Audio illusions 1
6 Making thermometers 1
7 Don't know 1

Complete this sentence: Dr. Shawn, you really need help with your...
1 Outfit 3
2 Markers (Hard to read writing on whiteboard) 1
3 Experiment choice 1
4 Notes 1
5 Point system 1
6 Space, we could use more* 1
7 Fact that we didn't get to blow anything up 1

* The classes were held inside a large open cafeteria, so space certainly did not seem to be a problem. I really don't know what this member was thinking about. SC

How important is each of the following to you for Session II. Rate each on a scale from 1 (not important) to 5 (very important). [Results given are average values over all respondents.]
1 Learning science 4.4
2 Having fun 4.3
3 Learning how to make my own discoveries 3.9
4 Going on field trips 4.1
5 Learning how to be a leader 3.1
6 Improving myself 4.1
7 Winning cool prizes 4.1

In the next session, I hope to learn more about the following topics:
Explosions / blowing things up: 3
Everything 2
Engineering 2
Computers 2

Other answers: Why people sneeze in bright lights. How a fire sprinkler works. How to simulate an avalanche. Space. Chemistry. How things work. New Discoveries. Magnets. Motors. Prehistoric things. Robotics. Acids. The formation of the earth. How humans evolved. Geology. Archeology. Rockets. Video cameras. Communication systems. Electricity.

With an overall average rating of 9.5, I think we can confidently declare the Labrats model in Session I to be a success. The kids love it because Labrats is fun! Also, they like learning. No grades. No punishment for doing badly. Members receive only rewards for participating or doing well. They get to do lots of cool, hands-on experiments in an open, low-pressure environment. The kids work together on Group projects and sometimes the Groups compete against each other. The winners get points towards prizes, the rest can also earn points. In fact, they can earn more points by figuring out how to do their projects effectively and then sharing that information with the other Groups, than they can by winning the contest alone.

As these results demonstrate, all this is a powerful recipe for fun and learning.

Session Two

I'm now adding more pieces of the full program. We've just introduced the system of ranks, and the Labrats Credo (our code of behavior). Three of our members have earned enough points to advance to the first rank. I'll be testing those candidates on our first field trip, and if they can pass a basic skills and knowledge test, then they advance to the rank of Learner.

Also, members have recruited two friends. We now have 14 members bringing our total to 10 boys and 4 girls. As a result, I've shaken things up a bit. The Atom Smashers is now an all girl Group, and the other two Groups now consist of 5 boys each.

We'll also be adding field trips this session, and, I hope, a parent committee to help organize them.

I'll keep you posted on our progress. But understand that very exciting things are going on here in Rhode Island on Thursday nights.

There's a great deal more to report, but I have a lesson to prepare for, so I'll sign off for now.

Dr. Shawn (Shawn Carlson)
MacArthur Fellow
Founder and Executive Director
Society for Amateur Scientists
Creator-LABRats

"Helping ordinary people do extraordinary science."