• Question: Will there ever be a more effective way to complete experiments in the classroom?

    Asked by anon-256499 to Radha, binuraj on 26 Jun 2020.
    • Photo: Radha Boya

      Radha Boya answered on 26 Jun 2020:

      Hi Roshan
      If we can structure the experiment – Motivation (why do it), Method (how to do), any effective alternatives (how else can we do?) and results (what do you get) – we can craft a meaningful way for experiments

Comments

  • Photo: Emma

    Emma commented on :

    I think we might go the way of virtual experiments (maybe with VR headsets), but simulations to explain the science have come a long way too. Although I would miss not having hands on practicals to complete, as they have the chance to go wrong and learn even more, and perhaps can be more fun. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/filter?subjects=chemistry&sort=alpha&view=grid

  • Photo: Katherine

    Katherine commented on :

    When you do an experiment in the classroom, you’re learning lots of different things. How to do the procedures, how to make observations and measurements, how to record data, that kind of thing. That’s really hard to replicate or replace with a more efficient method. We have to train chemists to have chemist lab skills. We can minimise the amount of waste produced, use tiny quantities of chemicals and generally reduce the environmental impact though. Stuff like learning the theory behind the experiment, and writing it up could be done from a virtual experiment or just from data, but hands-on laboratory work is an essential part of being a chemistry student.