Laboratory Work

What is laboratory work?

This type of work permits students to plan and to participate in investigation or to take part in activities that will help them improve their technical laboratory work.

In general, laboratory work can be used to promote the following learning outcomes:

·         Attitudes toward science

·         Scientific attitudes

·         Scientific inquiry

·         Conceptual development

·         Technical skills

Disadvantages of Laboratory Work

Laboratory work is not a panacea for improving science education. Although most science educators promote lab work, this strategy does not necessary produce all of the outcomes believed by many educators (Blosser, 1981; Hegarty-Hazel, 1990) for a number of reasons. Laboratory work that is counter to what students expect does not necessarily produce new conceptions. Laboratory periods are often too short, and students do not complete their lab work (Gardner & Gauld, 1990). Of course materials and equipment are always a problem in some schools where limited resources are available for this type of instruction.

Approach to Laboratory Work

1.     Scientific process skill

A major purpose for including laboratory work is to develop in students a sense for the nature of science. This aim requires that students use inquiry skills to engage in investigation.

2.    Deductive or verification

The purpose for this type of laboratory work is to confirm concepts, principles, and laws that have been addressed during classroom discussion and reading, as well as for students to gain firsthand experiences with them.

3.    Inductive

The inductive laboratory is the opposite of the deductive laboratory. The inductive laboratory provides students with the opportunity to develop concepts, principles, and laws through firsthand experience before these ideas are discussed in the classroom.

4.    Technical skill

Good laboratory techniques are essential for conducting successful laboratory activities and gathering accurate data. Good laboratory work also includes experimental technique and orderliness.

5.    Problem solving

In problem solving laboratory work, students are given opportunities to identify a problem, design procedures, collect information, organize data, and report the findings.