Scaffolding students’ preparation for a pharmacology practical improves their self-efficacy and learning

Laboratory practicals are important learning elements in science teaching. We used principles of active learning to develop interactive online teaching materials to scaffold students’ preparation for a simulated pharmacology practical. We aimed at increasing students’ self-efficacy and evaluated the effect of the intervention qualitatively and quantitatively. The online material contained elements of formative assessment for the students to follow their learning progress. Students’ readiness for the practical was assessed through a mandatory multiple-choice test. Students (73%) agree or strongly agree that the course of the practical increases their competences in pharmacology. We infer from the evaluations that the interactive material increased students’ self-efficacy, informed refinement of the conceptual understanding of pharmacology, and increased their ability to apply content knowledge to solve the inquiries for the practical. The pedagogical principles, e-learning tools and learning elements demonstrated in this development project can be used in many other educational contexts and disciplines.