Key components of any experiential
learning module are the resources
students use to learn. These typically include laboratory equipment,
handouts, and instructional material in the form of videos or standard
operating procedures (SOPs). Their design and implementation require
careful thought to ensure that students learn in an effective and
meaningful way. From our own experience in the undergraduate teaching
laboratory and from a variety of literature sources, we have identified
five design principles that educators should consider and integrate
into their resource development workflows: safety, authenticity, flexibility,
accessibility, and robustness (SAFAR). We present several examples
of how each principle can be implemented using Kolb’s experiential
learning cycle as a lens to understand the impact of each design principle
on the learning process.