The application of web-based formative quizzes in laboratory teaching in higher education environment

In this paper authors have presented the results of the application of web-based formative quizzes in physics laboratory teaching at biomedical university study programs. The web application Pitalica has been developed in order to enable quizzes for all students at the beginning of each laboratory class. The web-based quizzes are questioning the underlying theory of the specific practical assignment that the student is about to work off. The web-based quizzes have been performed during academic years 2010 and 2011. During the year 2010, quizzes were strictly formative i.e. the principal characteristic of the examination was to provide the appropriate feedback for constructing knowledge. During the 2011, students were informed that aside from the formative role, the total result achieved through quizzes would also bring 20% of the final exam grade. This paper is investigating the influence of formative web-based quizzes on the final practical exam results, when the two described approaches were applied. At the end of the course a survey has been conducted, questioning self perceived ease of use, motivation for better preparation, competences acquired, quizzes preferences, ICT literacy and gender.