The document discusses the importance and purpose of science laboratories in education. It provides definitions of a laboratory and outlines several key benefits of hands-on lab work for students, including developing skills like observation, critical thinking, and scientific processes. Several objectives of lab learning are described, such as teaching concepts, cognitive abilities, and scientific attitudes. Guidelines for effective lab design and safety rules are also covered. Both advantages and limitations of the laboratory teaching method are summarized.

1. Assignment On
SCIENCE LABORATORY
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2. SCIENCE LABORATORY
The oxford English dictionary defines laboratory as a building set upon for conducting
practical investigation in science originally and especially in chemistry and for the elaboration or
manufacture of products. The laboratory has been given a central and distinctive role in science
education. Laboratories are wonderful settings for teaching and learning science. They provide
students with opportunities to think about discuss and solve real problems.
According to Mckeachie, “laboratory teaching
assumes that firsthand experience in observation and
manipulation of the materials of science is superior to
other methods of developing understanding and
appreciation. Laboratory training is also used to
develop skills necessary for more advanced study or
research.
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Why use lab based learning?
Since late in the 19th century science educators have believed that laboratory is an
important means of instruction in science. Laboratory instruction was considered essential
because it provided training in observation, supplied detailed information and aroused pupils’
interest.
Science labs can be among the richest experiences students have at the university. It is
one of the few opportunities students will have to practice science in a similar way that
professionals do. In order for labs to be effective, students need to understand not only have to
do the experiment, but why the experiment is worth doing, and what purpose it serves for
improving students understanding a concept relationship on process.
Shulman and Tamir in the second handbook oh research on teaching, listed five type of
objectives that may be achieved through the use of the laboratory in science classes,.
1. Skills-manipulative, inquiry, investigative, organizational, communicative
2. Concepts- for example, hypothesis, theoretical model, taxonomic category.
3. Cognitive abilities- critical thinking, problem solving, application, analysis, synthesis.

3. 4. Understanding of the nature of science- scientific enterprise, scientists and how they
work, existence of a multiplicity of scientific methods.
5. Attitudes- for example, curiosity, interest, risk taking, objectivity, precision, satisfaction
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etc.
Importance of laboratory work.
1. The achievement of modern science is mainly due to the application of experimental
method. It is in the laboratory pupils get training in this important phase of science study.
2. In doing laboratory work the pupils get a chance for activity both physical and
intellectual and their learning by doing.
3. Laboratory exercises train them in scientific thinking they develop scientific attitude and
scientific methods as a result of laboratory work.
4. The laboratory helps the pupil in the
development of manipulative skill.
5. The experiments done serve as a source of
motivation. They are interested in handling
materials and doing experiments.
6. The laboratory, the teacher comes into closer
contact with the individual and helps them to
bring out their difficulties.
General principle of laboratory construction
1. The laboratory should be compact in arrangement but at the same time capable of
expansion to meet the growing needs of the school.
2. Fittings and furniture should be planned to be convenient for use and economical in the
long run.
3. The arrangements of furniture should ensure is of supervision and proper lighting.
4. There should enough storage accommodation and sufficient wallspace should be left for
additional fixtures.

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Laboratory rules
Rules are important because the laboratory happens to be place of potential dangers. The science
teacher is the supreme authority in the laboratory and he should be strictly obeyed. The
laboratory is essentially a workshop without any sort of confusion.
1. No pupil should be allowed to enter the laboratory in the absence of teacher or laboratory
assistant.
2. Every pupil may have a seat assigned to him.
3. The arrangement in the laboratory should be such that there is no need to move a pupil
from his seat.
4. Everyone should pick up the practice of putting up his hands to call his attention of the
teacher.
5. When the pupils are working in groups they might be allowed to discuss in a low tone.
6. Unnecessary talking should be strictly forbidden.
7. Reagent bottles should be returned to the shelves immediately after use.
8. Stoppers are also to be replaced on the
bottles.
9. Waste papers, burnt matchsticks should not
be thrown into the sink. Waste boxes should
be used.
10. Bottles must be labeled clearly.
Precaution while doing laboratory practical:
1. Laboratory glassware must be never used as drinking vessels.
2. Solutions split on the bench or floor should be
cleaned up immediately.
3. Concentrated solution should be diluted before
they are poured down the sink.
4. Do not point to the other pupil with a test tube.
5. Do not look into the mouth of a test tube while
heating its contents.
6. Do not sniff at toxic materials.

5. 7. For constant boiling, chips of marbles pieces should be placed in the liquid under boil.
8. Always use test tube holders while heating materials in a test tube.
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Merits of laboratory method
Following are the kinds of merits can be accure by making use of laboratory methods.
1. Through this method, a science teacher can provide various kinds of learning experiences
to the students, as a result of which information gained by them turns out to be of
permanent kind.
2. In this method, individual differences and interest of all the students are taken into
consideration, as a result of which, it is considered to be one of the psychological method
of teaching.
3. Through this method, students learn to explore various things on their own. They also
learn to verify various scientific facts and principles.
4. As the students directly get indulged in the experimental function and handle the various
complex instruments, they develop various kinds of practical skills and proficiency.
5. Through this method, an intimate relationship got developed in between the students and
teacher.
6. With this method, teacher can develop various good habits among the students among
because of which it is known for inculcation of good virtues among the students by a
majority of experts.
7. When students get success in their laboratory work, then they attain a sense of
achievement, which helps them in improving their performance to considerable extent in
all spheres of life.
Demerits of laboratory method
These methods has some specific kind of limitation also, some of which are as follows.
1. There are some kinds of knowledge which cannot be verified through experiments, as a
result of which this method has limited applicability.
2. As all the students get involved in experiment works because of which it becomes
necessary to provide them with separate equipment and other materials, but it is not
possible for the teachers to do so as the main problem in our nation in shortage of

6. resources. It is an important reason that why this method is used to limited extent in
schools.
3. As every student in expected to learn by performing experiments, thus it is felt by some
experts that this method expects too much from the students. So they feel heavy burden
on themselves.
4. Not only the students feel lot of burden on them, but the teacher also has the same kind of
tendency. Sometimes the teacher find it difficult to attend to the needs of the students, as
a result students get discouraged, as a result of which it becomes very difficult for teacher
to provide timely help and guidance to them.
5. This method can only be used experienced and well qualified teacher, otherwise
probabilities of getting failure can be increased.
From the above discussion it is clear that this method can only be used by the teacher
when students getting education have sound theoretical base. Not only this, there should
provision of enough apparatus in the school laboratory otherwise, students will not get individual
materials.
This method cannot be made practicable at primary and middle school stages, however, it
can be used for imparting education to students of high secondary stage. If the number of
students getting education in the class is more, then it is not possible to make use of this method,
as teacher will find it difficult to make arrangements for different equipment for such a large
number of students.
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References
1. Theoretical bases of teaching and pedagogic analysis – Dr.T.K. Mathew, Dr.T.K.Molleykutty
2. Simpson J.A.Weiner, oxford English dictionary volume, 2nd ed.oxford
3. Teaching Techniques for Multimedia Language Labs, Centre for Excellence in Multimedia
Language Learning, - Martin Barge
4. Helping students learning science – Berry A, Mulhall P
5. International handbook of science education – Tobin J, Fraser B J