Basic Science laboratory Equipment/Facilities for Secondary Schools
Hello teachers, students, and researchers, I am here again today, Friday, 22nd May, 2020, to explain the need for Science laboratory facilities in schools and also provide a list to check their availability in schools.
Science is learnt by doing and dealing with investigation of nature. It therefore places demand on schools curricular to adequately provide for practical activities at every stage of learning experiences. A successful study of science-based subjects in schools involves regular hands on practical work for learners to develop scientific literacy to face global challenges.
Science is experimentation and its teaching especially focuses on making students learn through the workings with hands, brain and the heart (Alebiosu, 2003). For science teachers to play their roles in teaching science facilities must be available and must be used appropriately to improve the performance of students.
What is Science laboratory?
So many researchers have defined laboratory in different ways but all the definitions come to give the same meaning. Ardo (2004) defines school laboratory as an instructional facility for helping pupils to learn what science is and how scientists work. He also said that nature should be a laboratory and that learning of science should be through inquiry rather than dogma.
The setting of the laboratory will help for logical, critical and independent thinking. Omosewo (2010) defined laboratory as a place equipped for experimental study. In sum a science laboratory is a learning space where people engage themselves in human enterprise to examine and explain natural phenomena.
School laboratory is an instructional facility used by teacher to help students learn about science and how scientists investigate the world around them. That is, it is a school building set aside for scientific inquiry and discovery. Within the laboratory environment, students are brought in direct contact with materials, manipulating them through procedures that reflect scientific thinking.
According to Ogunkola and Olatoye (2004) practical work is the back-bone of effective science teaching and learning. It has been repeatedly emphasized that scientific enterprise is an activity packed one, involving continuous exploration and verification of facts.
Science is learnt by doing, so the different school curricula should adequately provide facilities for practical work at every stage of learning experiences. The development of psychomotor domain involves practical activities which require laboratory facilities and equipment.
I have put in over seven years into educational researches, and I have discovered that it is a popular problem among research students to be able to construct their instruments for collection of data even when this is a major component for the success of the research. In the coming days, I would be sharing more research guides and tips for students and teachers. This is my way of supporting the @Education-Hive community.
I decided to put below the following checklist for the availability of basic science laboratory facilities that a secondary school should have. Below are a basic list of Science laboratory facilities for schools. Kindly check whether your school have them and give a count out of the entire number below.
Basic Facilities for a Secondary School Laboratory
| S/N | Basic Equipment | Available | Not available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funnel (glass or plastic) | Available | Not available |
| 2 | Microscope | Available | Not available |
| 3 | Photometer | Available | Not available |
| 4 | Beaker | Available | Not available |
| 5 | Spatula | Available | Not available |
| 6 | Thermometer | Available | Not available |
| 7 | Crucibles | Available | Not available |
| 8 | Burette | Available | Not available |
| 9 | Pipette | Available | Not available |
| 10 | Rain gauge | Available | Not available |
| 11 | Conical flask | Available | Not available |
| 12 | Petri dish | Available | Not available |
| 13 | Test-tube | Available | Not available |
| 14 | Aquarium | Available | Not available |
| 15 | Anemometer | Available | Not available |
| 16 | Reagent bottles | Available | Not available |
| 17 | Test tube bottles/ racks | Available | Not available |
| 18 | Fire extinguisher | Available | Not available |
| 19 | Tripod stand | Available | Not available |
| 20 | Bunsen burner | Available | Not available |
| 21 | Measuring cylinder | Available | Not available |
| 22 | Hand lens | Available | Not available |
| S/N | Basic Charts | Available | Not available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skeleton & muscular system | Available | Not available |
| 2 | A flowering plant | Available | Not available |
| 3 | Human anatomy | Available | Not available |
| 4 | Blood circulation & lymph | Available | Not available |
| 5 | Botany: plant & reproduction | Available | Not available |
| S/N | Basic Models | Available | Not available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Human heart | Available | Not available |
| 2 | Human skin | Available | Not available |
| 3 | Human kidney | Available | Not available |
| 4 | Skeleton of human being | Available | Not available |
| 5 | Human brain | Available | Not available |
Total Count of Facilities = 32
Number of Facilities present in your school = ______________
Evaluation
Discover the names of the below Laboratory equipment
References
- Alebiosu, K. A. (2003). Readings in Science Education, Ibadan: Majestic Printers and Publishers.
- Ardo, G. V. (2004). An introduction to Science and Teaching, a handbook for tyro teachers and supervisors Sokoto: Usman Danfodio University Sokoto Press.
- Omosewo, E.O. (2010). Science Laboratory Management in Some Selected Secondary Schools of Moro LGA of Osun State, 8: https://www.new.unilorin.edu.ng Retrieved on 18th August 2016.
- Ogunkola, B.J. and Olatoye R.A. (2004). Student Gender Self-Concept and Attitude towards Science as Predictors of Performance in Practical Basic Science Tasks: Sokoto Educational Review 7:124-125.
I am your Research Assistant @Uyobong. We hope to meet again tomorrow for some helpful educational research tips. Feel free to use the comment section of this post to ask questions so we can interact the more.
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