Student Perceptions and Learning Outcomes in a Newly Designed Undergraduate Laboratory Course
This work examines the results of integrating a laboratory course into the undergraduate curriculum of the Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye. This 4-h elective course offers options in the hydraulic, geotechnical, structural materials, and structural health monitoring laboratories. The course aims to engage undergraduate students in scientific research, broadening their perspectives and enhancing their research skills for future endeavors, while also providing support for ongoing research projects within the department. Through this approach, students benefit from hands-on learning experiences and contribute to the department’s research activities. The course was first offered in the Fall semester of 2021–2022. In this study, we begin by discussing the motivations behind the course’s design. Next, we provide an overview of the Structural Health Monitoring Laboratory course. Finally, we present the results of a detailed questionnaire conducted with students who participated in the course. Overall, the evaluation shows that the course met its initial goals, but some adjustments to the course structure and teaching methods could further improve its success in future semesters.