After going through the 'Guide to planning practical science: Cambridge Assessment International Education' [1] which has been abstracted as follows as the main points. the Physics Laboratory at the Plenum School, HP, was planned and made operational as shown in the following pictures.
LAB GUIDELINES
Basic norms
The efficient use of laboratories and other science teaching areas is important. (The laboratories should be) suitable for a maximum group size of 30 learners...Extra teaching areas can be valuable additions to the science suite where space allows, for example a small resources area. This space can provide a focus for the department, with displays of learners’ work and a poster area illustrating new scientific developments...A shared staff office can be useful for meetings and preparation work, as well as the secure storage of paperwork such as learners’ records and coursework.
A well-designed laboratory should be able to accommodate a wide range of scientific activities. The size of the space, the method of distributing services (gas and water) and the choice of furniture systems will all affect the way in which it can be used.
Activities in the laboratory
Modern science courses place a much greater emphasis on practical work. The range of activities involved in these courses is diverse and will affect the way in which the laboratory is designed. Some of these activities are:
• teacher demonstration of experiments
• use of ICT and video
• learners’ experimental work and investigations
• discussion and note-taking
• display.
Demonstration
Despite the increasing emphasis on learners’ own practical activity, do not underestimate the use of the teacher demonstration of an experiment (real or simulated). Learners may need to group more closely around the teacher’s bench or another area of the laboratory, such as the fume cupboard.
Learners’ experimental work and investigations
In many science courses, practical work can take a variety of forms, with learners working individually or in groups of different sizes. It is essential that the laboratory provides sufficient space for learners to work safely, with access to the full range of appropriate resources. These may be fairly basic, such as Bunsen burners, tripods and mats, but will also include the necessary services. Investigations will often require practical work in more than one session. In this case, adequate space must be provided to store apparatus between sessions, while still allowing the laboratory to be used for other classes.
The science department and individual laboratories can be made much more interesting if well-mounted displays, perhaps of commercially produced posters or, better, learners’ own work, fill the empty spaces on the walls. It is worth investing in a good pin board, painting it and screwing it to the wall.
[1]
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/573787-guide-to-planning-practical-science.pdf
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