School Science Lab Equipment - What"s Best In The Classroom?
What Should Be Allowed In School Science Labs? Very often, one of the more exciting subjects for students to learn about in school is science.
After all, while it can be pretty difficult to do any kind of exciting hands-on activity in a history, or literature, or math classroom, it is possible to demonstrate a number of different fascinating principles right there in the science classroom, provided that the school has the equipment handy.
That way, instead of just learning about science in theory, the kids can experience the subject firsthand in a much more memorable and interesting way.
Of course, this kind of situation is necessarily limited by the equipment which is available in the classroom for the students and teachers to use, which begs an important question: what, exactly, should teachers have in their school science classrooms and/or labs? It is an important point to consider, because one the one hand having a lot of equipment around can be a fantastic resource for students who might otherwise not be extremely interested in science to get a chance to see unusual phenomena in action.
On the other hand having a lot of that kind of equipment can get expensive pretty fast, to say nothing of the fact that if we are not careful about deciding which equipment goes in the classroom, students might be dealing with more than they can handle, which can create a dangerous situation.
When we think of what sort of equipment there should be in an ideal science classroom, there is a lot to consider, because there are many different sciences.
One of the first to consider is biology.
In a biology classroom, it may be helpful to students to have sample of living things.
This is a great opportunity to grow plants in the classroom, because students will enjoy watching them grow, and they are inexpensive.
Also, unless the plants are poisonous, danger to the students is no concern.
Beyond that there is the question bringing creatures into the class.
These can be trickier, but it is important not have anything that requires too much space or attention.
Any animal that can live in an aquarium or terrarium, and can be safely left over a long weekend with some food and water, is probably fine.
Then there is the question of equipment in chemistry or physics classrooms.
In these there is the potential for fire, or fumes, or a number of other dangerous situations that could arise if the students, or the teachers, are not careful.
The best policy is one that maintains an optimal balance of safety, cost, and of course educational value.
Although it is certainly tempting to wish for everything under the sun in your science lab, teachers must bear in mind which specific pieces of equipment will actually get used the most often and to greatest effect.
A well-equipped science classroom is a great resource, and as long as teachers and school administrators take the time to make informed decisions about the sort of equipment to buy, they should make every effort to get the best and most practical lab equipment possible.
3/15/2011
After all, while it can be pretty difficult to do any kind of exciting hands-on activity in a history, or literature, or math classroom, it is possible to demonstrate a number of different fascinating principles right there in the science classroom, provided that the school has the equipment handy.
That way, instead of just learning about science in theory, the kids can experience the subject firsthand in a much more memorable and interesting way.
Of course, this kind of situation is necessarily limited by the equipment which is available in the classroom for the students and teachers to use, which begs an important question: what, exactly, should teachers have in their school science classrooms and/or labs? It is an important point to consider, because one the one hand having a lot of equipment around can be a fantastic resource for students who might otherwise not be extremely interested in science to get a chance to see unusual phenomena in action.
On the other hand having a lot of that kind of equipment can get expensive pretty fast, to say nothing of the fact that if we are not careful about deciding which equipment goes in the classroom, students might be dealing with more than they can handle, which can create a dangerous situation.
When we think of what sort of equipment there should be in an ideal science classroom, there is a lot to consider, because there are many different sciences.
One of the first to consider is biology.
In a biology classroom, it may be helpful to students to have sample of living things.
This is a great opportunity to grow plants in the classroom, because students will enjoy watching them grow, and they are inexpensive.
Also, unless the plants are poisonous, danger to the students is no concern.
Beyond that there is the question bringing creatures into the class.
These can be trickier, but it is important not have anything that requires too much space or attention.
Any animal that can live in an aquarium or terrarium, and can be safely left over a long weekend with some food and water, is probably fine.
Then there is the question of equipment in chemistry or physics classrooms.
In these there is the potential for fire, or fumes, or a number of other dangerous situations that could arise if the students, or the teachers, are not careful.
The best policy is one that maintains an optimal balance of safety, cost, and of course educational value.
Although it is certainly tempting to wish for everything under the sun in your science lab, teachers must bear in mind which specific pieces of equipment will actually get used the most often and to greatest effect.
A well-equipped science classroom is a great resource, and as long as teachers and school administrators take the time to make informed decisions about the sort of equipment to buy, they should make every effort to get the best and most practical lab equipment possible.
3/15/2011