Practical Considerations for Advancing Undergraduate Digital Literacy through Digital Laboratory Notebooks

Digital laboratory notebooks (DLNs), alternatively termed electronic laboratory notebooks, are valuable for cultivating digital literacy and enhancing laboratory productivity. However, selecting and implementing a DLN can be difficult. This book chapter outlines four factors to consider when selecting a DLN: cost, platform compatibility, user collaboration, and data compliance. Next, it discusses the implementation of Quip (a productivity app) as a DLN at Fairfield University, a primarily undergraduate institution. Through applications in organic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical instrumentation laboratories, the reader will gain practical knowledge of Quip’s interface, data management architecture, content creation tools, and instructor’s features. The chapter concludes by considering the legacy of accessing data within Quip and student perceptions of the DLN at Fairfield University.