At-home lab kits provide vital alternative for students in various science courses
At-home lab kits provide vital alternative for students in various science courses
July 15, 2020
When it became apparent that remote learning would extend beyond the spring semester
and into both summer sessions at the Community College of Rhode Island due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, faculty members from various branches of science knew they needed
to act quickly.
While some courses are better suited for remote or online learning – liberal arts,
communications, among others – students in chemistry, biology, and physics rely on
more hands-on learning, specifically through laboratory experiments.
The possibility of students either completing or beginning their journey in these
fields without the benefit of an in-person lab prompted faculty members to explore
at-home lab kits and virtual labs as temporary replacements for Summer Sessions I
and II.
“Our first instinct when we heard everything was going remote was, ‘No way we can
do anything. We’re going to cancel everything,’” said Chemistry Department Chair Elizabeth
Arendt. “That was our gut instinct. ‘How can we do labs at home?’ Then we took a breath
and said, ‘OK, we really can’t do that.’ It would just halt so many people’s progress.”
Science professors, lab paraprofessionals, and department chairs began researching
prices and varieties of at-home lab kits as early as March knowing there was a chance
the pandemic would affect the first of the college’s two summer sessions. Initially,
Arendt and other professors probed the idea of purchasing the necessary materials
separately and making their own lab kits without using a third party, but quantities
and costs quickly became an issue.
“You can go to Amazon and buy a lot of these things,” Arendt said, “but you might
have to buy 20 pounds of it when you only need a gram.”
When the decision to move Summer Session I to a remote platform became official, the
college immediately began the process of purchasing and shipping the kits to students.
The pre-made kits were the best option; they are tailored to more of a baseline curriculum,
making it easier for students to transfer what they learn elsewhere, and are developed
with the strictest safety protocols in mind.
The college ordered more than 600 lab kits for use in approximately 17 summer courses.
Some were shipped directly to students while others arrived on pallets at the Flanagan
Campus in early May, giving the college plenty of time to get them in the students’
hands for the first day of class on May 18. Students participating in Summer Session
II, which began at the end of June and runs through the first week of August, will
utilize the same kits, all of which were provided by the college.
This is a groundbreaking move for CCRI in terms of how other colleges in the state
handled the closing of its laboratories due to COVID-19. While Arendt and others acknowledge
that at-home lab kits cannot permanently replace the experience of an in-person lab
experiment, this timely alternative allowed the college to avoid the complicated process
of having to cancel certain courses because it could not provide the lab work.
“We did this so our students could not only have a class, but have the best class
we could have under these circumstances,” Arendt said. “A science class has to be
as hands-on as possible. It’s been a ton of work, but we’re hoping when the students
are done they can say, ‘OK, I did this,’ and appreciate what they did.”
The majority of the kits were purchased from a company that specializes in delivering
a hands-on laboratory experience to students engaged in online and blended learning.
For two introductory summer courses – Introductory Microbiology and Basic Skills for
Chemistry – the college went with a second company that offered kits more suitable
to the curriculum.
Organic Chemistry I – a course, Arendt says, whose labs are “too dangerous” to perform
at home – used virtual labs from a Utah-based company that provides sophisticated
simulations of lab experiments in a virtual environment where students are forced
to make their own decisions and, in turn, experience the resulting consequences.
The physical kits contained enough materials, everything from beakers and Styrofoam
cups to pre-measured chemicals and syringes, to perform anywhere between 10 to 15
lab experiments depending on the course load. Once the kits arrived, students had
to download their experimental writeup online and fill in the appropriate data sheet
and lab report for each experiment before submitting it to their professor. Some were
also asked to send photos.
Students in Professor Karen Kortz’s General Geology I (GEOL 1010) course utilized
kits that contained rocks and minerals in addition to the tools traditionally used
to identify them. The materials allowed Kortz to design labs that worked for both
parties.
“They loved being able to identify their rocks and minerals in the their kit. It provided
a hands-on experience, similar to what they would have done during in-person labs.
You certainly can't get the same experience just looking at pictures of rocks and
minerals,” she said. “I feel much more comfortable knowing that students in the summer
were able to achieve our course goals by using the materials in the kits to think
like geologists through collecting and analyzing data to solve problems.”
Amanda Joly, an adult learner from Slatersville, RI, enrolled in General Chemistry
I (CHEM 1030) – her first chemistry course since high school – and appreciated the
flexibility of being able to use the at-home kits while taking care of her children.
“For me, I think it helps solidify the fact that chemistry doesn't happen only in
a lab, but that it's occurring everywhere around us,” Joly said. “It was also fun
to share with my children what I was doing. Watching my 8-year-old son’s eyes light
up when he saw how different salts emitted various colors of light was a lot of fun.”
Assistant Chemistry Professor Christopher Zoto taught CHEM 1030 during Summer Session
I and noted the lab kit’s ability to accommodate a wide variety of experiments, including
different types of chemical reactions, recording qualitative observations, dimensional
analysis, and understanding thermodynamic properties.
Like others in his department, Zoto recognizes the eventual need for students to return
to campus to fully maximize the lab experience, but says the at-home kits “were equally
beneficial for both new students who had yet to conduct an in-person lab and returning
students who needed something temporary to keep busy until in-person classes resumed.”
The process of researching the available kits and ensuring they’d get to the students’
homes in time for class was a team effort with input provided by everyone from the
vice president, deans, and department chairs to faculty, lab paraprofessionals, and
the finance team. Even with the kits available, Arendt still made roughly 20 of her
own supplemental kits for one of the college’s Basic Skills for Chemistry course from
materials in her home, including swimming pool chemicals and Miracle Gro. She also
personally delivered a handful of kits to new students who enrolled right before classes
began.
Faculty members will reevaluate the process at the end of Summer Session II before
deciding if – and how – they will incorporate the kits into the upcoming Fall curriculum.
“The boxes have certainly given us a different perspective,” Arendt said, “but there
are things in the physical lab space that we cannot duplicate at home. I don’t want
to say we definitely won’t use them, but I don’t want to discount them either.”
Latest News
CCRI Launches Bold Expansion of Work-Based Learning to Strengthen Rhode Island's Workforce
May 22, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will launch the next phase of work-based learning to increase internships for students to work directly in workplace environments, gaining valuable skills and experience necessary for college and career success.
CCRI and Delta Dental of Rhode Island Partner to Strengthen Dental Workforce for Rhode Island's Future
May 20, 2025
A partnership between the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) is building a pipeline of highly trained, workforce-ready dental hygienists to respond to a nationwide demand for dental hygienists and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable oral healthcare system in Rhode Island.
CCRI Celebrates its 60th Commencement with Powerful Speeches, Generational Milestones, and a Proud Legacy of Alumni
May 16, 2025
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated a milestone achievement: its 60th Commencement Ceremony. Held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the event marked the culmination of CCRI’s year-long diamond anniversary celebration and was a stirring tribute to six decades of transformation, opportunity, and achievement for Rhode Islanders.
CCRI Alum Justin Bibee Named National Peace Corps Association '40 Under 40'
July 10, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly celebrates alumnus Dr. Justin Bibee, a 2009 graduate and Cranston, RI native, who has been named to the National Peace Corps Association’s 2024 “40 Under 40” list, recognizing the next generation of leaders who are reimagining American leadership through service, spirit, and solutions.
Former CCRI Athletic Administrators Vin Cullen and Kevin Salisbury Receive National Recognitions
July 08, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island is proud to announce that longtime coach and athletic director Vin Cullen has been named a recipient of the NJCAA Coaches Association Legacy Award, a national honor recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact on two-year college athletics and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student-athletes throughout their careers.
CCRI Cybersecurity Club Tops Regional Powerhouses In National Competition
June 27, 2025
WARWICK, R.I. -- The Community College of Rhode Island’s Cybersecurity Club is riding high after succeeding on a national scale during the spring. Thanks to a strong showing at the National Cyber League (NCL) spring competition, CCRI placed 27th nationally out of 510 colleges and universities in the final Cyber Power Rankings for the spring season. The performance was commended by David Ziechick, commissioner of the NCL, which has students perform real-world cybersecurity tasks that translate to the workforce.
CCRI Alum Johnny Villella Wins Emmy For Story On Providence Patrolman
June 23, 2025
Johnny Villella needs to clear more space in his trophy case. Villella, a CCRI alum, won an Emmy at the 2025 New England Emmy Awards in the category of News Feature: Serious Feature (Multiple Reports). The award is one of many for Villella, who’s enjoyed a long, decorated career at WPRI-TV (Channel 12 in Rhode Island).
CCRI Joins Achieving The Dream Network To Advance Student Success And Community Impact
June 16, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is pleased to announce that it has joined the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.
On February 24, 2025, the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN) recognized CCRI alumni Francine Jackson’s contributions to astronomy education and outreach by naming an asteroid in her honor.The designation was announced in WGSBN Bulletin 5, No. 3, under new names of Minor Planets.
How Theater Alum Max Hayden Earned CCRI's Fifth Gamm Fellowship
June 11, 2025
When an opportunity presented itself, Max Hayden took it and ran with it. Hayden initially focused on behind-the-scenes work for CCRI’s theater program. But after accepting and thriving in the lead role for the school’s Yellowman production in 2023, Hayden became a fixture of the school’s theater program over the last two years.
CCRI Students Blending Art And Science In Unique Exhibition Funded By NSF Grant
June 04, 2025
If you love art or science, and especially if you love both, you’ll want to visit CCRI’s Lincoln Campus this month. Throughout the spring, CCRI Art & Design students collaborated with CCRI STEM professors and students to create original, science-inspired art projects. Funded by a $15,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR initiative, this collaboration highlights creative potential that emerges when these two disciplines meet.
76-year-old Musician Completing CCRI Degree Decades After Starting
June 02, 2025
Nearly 30 years after beginning his CCRI education, 76-year-old Ed McGuirl is about to check the final box on his long, fascinating résumé. In the mid-1990s, the Jamestown resident studied at CCRI to pursue a social services degree that would complement his work as a substance-abuse treatment professional. But a busy work schedule forced McGuirl to indefinitely pause his studies – until now.
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Spring 2025 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher thissemester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
'Overjoyed' CCRI Graduate Opens Up On Getting Engaged At Commencement'
May 23, 2025
Warwick, RI -- Samantha Lescarbeau knew she would experience one life-changing event at CCRI commencement. But she never expected what would happen after she walked across the stage at Amica Mutual Pavillion on May 15.
CCRI Announces Winners of 2025 Student Film Festival
May 22, 2025
Warwick, RI -- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announced the winners of its 2025 Student Film Festival following a weekend of cinematic talent and storytelling. The festival kicked off with a red-carpet gala on Friday, May 10, and continued on Saturday, May 11, with a full day of student film screenings. The event drew students, faculty, and local film lovers to celebrate the achievements of CCRI’s talented filmmakers.
CCRI Launches Bold Expansion of Work-Based Learning to Strengthen Rhode Island's Workforce
May 22, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will launch the next phase of work-based learning to increase internships for students to work directly in workplace environments, gaining valuable skills and experience necessary for college and career success.
CCRI and Delta Dental of Rhode Island Partner to Strengthen Dental Workforce for Rhode Island's Future
May 20, 2025
A partnership between the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) is building a pipeline of highly trained, workforce-ready dental hygienists to respond to a nationwide demand for dental hygienists and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable oral healthcare system in Rhode Island.
CCRI Celebrates its 60th Commencement with Powerful Speeches, Generational Milestones, and a Proud Legacy of Alumni
May 16, 2025
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated a milestone achievement: its 60th Commencement Ceremony. Held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the event marked the culmination of CCRI’s year-long diamond anniversary celebration and was a stirring tribute to six decades of transformation, opportunity, and achievement for Rhode Islanders.
CCRI Alum Justin Bibee Named National Peace Corps Association '40 Under 40'
July 10, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly celebrates alumnus Dr. Justin Bibee, a 2009 graduate and Cranston, RI native, who has been named to the National Peace Corps Association’s 2024 “40 Under 40” list, recognizing the next generation of leaders who are reimagining American leadership through service, spirit, and solutions.
Former CCRI Athletic Administrators Vin Cullen and Kevin Salisbury Receive National Recognitions
July 08, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island is proud to announce that longtime coach and athletic director Vin Cullen has been named a recipient of the NJCAA Coaches Association Legacy Award, a national honor recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact on two-year college athletics and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student-athletes throughout their careers.
CCRI Cybersecurity Club Tops Regional Powerhouses In National Competition
June 27, 2025
WARWICK, R.I. -- The Community College of Rhode Island’s Cybersecurity Club is riding high after succeeding on a national scale during the spring. Thanks to a strong showing at the National Cyber League (NCL) spring competition, CCRI placed 27th nationally out of 510 colleges and universities in the final Cyber Power Rankings for the spring season. The performance was commended by David Ziechick, commissioner of the NCL, which has students perform real-world cybersecurity tasks that translate to the workforce.
CCRI Alum Johnny Villella Wins Emmy For Story On Providence Patrolman
June 23, 2025
Johnny Villella needs to clear more space in his trophy case. Villella, a CCRI alum, won an Emmy at the 2025 New England Emmy Awards in the category of News Feature: Serious Feature (Multiple Reports). The award is one of many for Villella, who’s enjoyed a long, decorated career at WPRI-TV (Channel 12 in Rhode Island).
CCRI Joins Achieving The Dream Network To Advance Student Success And Community Impact
June 16, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is pleased to announce that it has joined the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.
On February 24, 2025, the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN) recognized CCRI alumni Francine Jackson’s contributions to astronomy education and outreach by naming an asteroid in her honor.The designation was announced in WGSBN Bulletin 5, No. 3, under new names of Minor Planets.
How Theater Alum Max Hayden Earned CCRI's Fifth Gamm Fellowship
June 11, 2025
When an opportunity presented itself, Max Hayden took it and ran with it. Hayden initially focused on behind-the-scenes work for CCRI’s theater program. But after accepting and thriving in the lead role for the school’s Yellowman production in 2023, Hayden became a fixture of the school’s theater program over the last two years.
CCRI Students Blending Art And Science In Unique Exhibition Funded By NSF Grant
June 04, 2025
If you love art or science, and especially if you love both, you’ll want to visit CCRI’s Lincoln Campus this month. Throughout the spring, CCRI Art & Design students collaborated with CCRI STEM professors and students to create original, science-inspired art projects. Funded by a $15,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR initiative, this collaboration highlights creative potential that emerges when these two disciplines meet.
76-year-old Musician Completing CCRI Degree Decades After Starting
June 02, 2025
Nearly 30 years after beginning his CCRI education, 76-year-old Ed McGuirl is about to check the final box on his long, fascinating résumé. In the mid-1990s, the Jamestown resident studied at CCRI to pursue a social services degree that would complement his work as a substance-abuse treatment professional. But a busy work schedule forced McGuirl to indefinitely pause his studies – until now.
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Spring 2025 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher thissemester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
'Overjoyed' CCRI Graduate Opens Up On Getting Engaged At Commencement'
May 23, 2025
Warwick, RI -- Samantha Lescarbeau knew she would experience one life-changing event at CCRI commencement. But she never expected what would happen after she walked across the stage at Amica Mutual Pavillion on May 15.
CCRI Announces Winners of 2025 Student Film Festival
May 22, 2025
Warwick, RI -- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announced the winners of its 2025 Student Film Festival following a weekend of cinematic talent and storytelling. The festival kicked off with a red-carpet gala on Friday, May 10, and continued on Saturday, May 11, with a full day of student film screenings. The event drew students, faculty, and local film lovers to celebrate the achievements of CCRI’s talented filmmakers.
CCRI Launches Bold Expansion of Work-Based Learning to Strengthen Rhode Island's Workforce
May 22, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will launch the next phase of work-based learning to increase internships for students to work directly in workplace environments, gaining valuable skills and experience necessary for college and career success.
CCRI and Delta Dental of Rhode Island Partner to Strengthen Dental Workforce for Rhode Island's Future
May 20, 2025
A partnership between the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) is building a pipeline of highly trained, workforce-ready dental hygienists to respond to a nationwide demand for dental hygienists and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable oral healthcare system in Rhode Island.
CCRI Celebrates its 60th Commencement with Powerful Speeches, Generational Milestones, and a Proud Legacy of Alumni
May 16, 2025
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated a milestone achievement: its 60th Commencement Ceremony. Held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the event marked the culmination of CCRI’s year-long diamond anniversary celebration and was a stirring tribute to six decades of transformation, opportunity, and achievement for Rhode Islanders.