Due to increased enrollment and a shortage of laboratory space, Materials Science and Engineering needed an innovative solution to integrate safety training into their curriculum and provide students with more time working in the laboratory. 

With the help of a Flipped Classroom Grant, Materials Science and Engineering reached out to EH&S for assistance in developing site-specific safety training modules for their laboratories. The goal was to provide students online safety training modules that could be completed prior to working in the laboratory, allowing students more hands-on time using equipment.

Once the plan was in place, a team of two student employees began the process of creating 17 modules. Over the next seven months, the two students designed templates, filmed and edited video, and created voice-overs for the modules. EH&S staff served as the experts for course design and development, and reviewed the safety aspects of each module. Materials Science and Engineering provided content and review for each module’s learning assessment.

Once complete, the modules were placed in the Manager Training Needs tool within Learn@ISU. Materials Science and Engineering faculty can use the modules in Blackboard Learn and add them as a component of their classroom courses. 

The modules were used for the Fall 2015 semester with an average of 66 users per module.