Abstract
This evaluation study is concerned with the 'unexpected' outcomes of the teaching and learning processes of a university human physiology laboratory course. From a comprehensive 'general' evaluation of the students' perceptions of the course as determined by field studies, interviews and a questionnaire there emerged several important issues concerning the teaching and learning in the laboratory. Each of these issues was studied in detail. Issue One is the role of the video-tapes which are used for teaching the laboratory work. The students' attitudes to being taught by video are described and analysed; this information is employed in the production of a 'research' video-tape which was used for teaching in the laboratory. An evaluation of this tape gave rise to an evaluation tool for analysing future video-tapes. Issue two is the relation between the lab course and the other components of the students' degree course. The lab course is construed in a positive way and is thought to be a major influence on the students' overall degree course. The third issue is a consideration of the role of the lab course in the students' university education. The students' attitudes to university aims before and after the lab course is established, and an analysis of the role which they retrospectively thought the course played in the change in attitudes is given. The final concern - issue four - is the development of a taxonomy for defining objectives in the perceptual motor domain. Existing taxonomies are discussed and an analysis of the principles underlying taxonomies is given. A composite taxonomy is then offered for consideration along.