This question is closely related to the question about the motivating students in the lecture hall:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_in_your_opinion_the_best_practices_for_motivating_undergraduate_students_and_thus_improve_attendance_to_the_lectures?
Usually, there is no problem with the laboratory attendance; students are "physically" in the laboratory. But what do we do to make them be "mentally" in the laboratory as well-:)? I have been thinking about this problem since 1986 when I entered, for the first time, the laboratory on analog electronics and began assisting students in doing interesting circuit experiments...
Please, share your practice in conducting laboratory exercises particularly in the field of electronics (analog, digital, microcomputer...) It is interesting to discuss how to conduct the labs so that to motivate students - e.g., following a fixed "scenario" or involving them in interesting and unpredictable experiments? What kind of laboratory setups do we use - fixed, prewired, hidden... or flexible, free wired on a prototyping board? What kind of instruments do we use - the modern computerized or the old-fashioned analog ones? Discuss also the problems about the lab reports, the connection between the labs and lectures, etc.
I think planification and design is key, of course you need equipment and teaching skills to achieve that. You can do something simple, sometimes with almost no equipment. If it is well designed, not only regarding the activity by itself, but according to learning objectives and with the course context, it will probably engage students better. It is clear that its not a simple task...
I think principal motivation at the laboratory for the students is show the veracity of mathematical models. At classroom we spend time and energy showing the way of obtain or modelling a physical phenomena, the lab is the perfect place for start discussion about: how accurate is these model?, Is reasonable every assumption made?, and of course showing the power of make predictions about reality with these model.
I was a laboratory attendant myself at IIT Roorkee. I wud say there shud be freedom for everything. The silliest of ideas, stupidest question and then verifying them by designing and modelling. Also exposing them to new technology and what is going round the world helps a lot.
Well for others, I don't know. This is my experience. After my Lab i found most of the students more curious towards the modelling and mathematical approach as well as they got a perspective of how things work physically.
One of the silliest questions asked was, What would happen to the power supply if I draw more current then the rated current. I blew a fuse in front of them by shotting the power supply output? Although I had to pay for it, but they started to get a feel for, how a careless decision can affect the functioning.
Second was race around condition in JK Flip Flop. third was regarding the relaxation oscillator using UJT. etc etc
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