Issues+in+learning+and+teaching+Science

=Issues in teaching and learning Science = Issue I (Laboratory Rules) **SUMMARY** Laboratory rules are very important. The science laboratory can be a dangerous place if we are not careful enough. We must abide by certain rules for our own safety. 1) Do not enter the laboratory or conduct an experiment without a teacher's permission. 2) Do not pour unused chemicals back into the container to avoid contamination. 3) Handle all chemicals and apparatus carefully and correctly. 4) When heating chemicals, place flammable substances away from a flame. 5) Do not taste any chemicals unless instructed by your teacher. 6) When heating or mixing chemicals, students must wear safety goggles. 7) Dispose waste correctly. Do not pour solid waste into the sink. 8) Do not tamper with electrical mains and other fittings in the laboratory. You may get an electric shock. 9) Do not eat, drink or play in the laboratory. 10) Check the labels on containers before using their contents. These are the rules we should abide by in the laboratory. We have to follow them in order to avoid unexpected or unwanted incidents such as burns or severe injuries. A laboratory can both be fun and hazardous, if we want to have fun and learn in the process, we have to obey every rule that is required. If we solely care about enjoying ourselves, we are actually leading ourselves to great hazard. We might not enjoy ourselves at all. ~ Issue 2 (Laboratory Apparatus) **__SUMMARY__** These are some of the laboratory apparatus. I have learnt about their uses. Thistle funnel - For transfering liquids into a flask Retord stand - For supporting apparatus during an experiment Filter funnel - For separating an insoluble solid form a liquid with the help of a piece of filter paper Bell jar - For separating an experimental set-up from the outside environment Tripod stand - For supporting apparatus during heating Beaker - For containing chemicals or collecting liquids Flat-bottomed flask - For containing chemicals when preparing gases if the process requires no heating Test tube - For containing or heating small amount of substance Measuring cylinder - For measuring a volume of liquid Conical flask - For containing chemicals or collecting liquids Water trough - For containing water when collecting gases Round-bottom flask - For preparation of gases if the process requires heating Evaporating dish - For evaporating a liquid from a solution Gas jar - For collecting gases Crucible - For heating solids directly over a flame Watch glass - Place specimen on it for observation Pipette - For measuring very accurately a specific volume of liquid, such as 10ml, 25ml, 50ml Burette - For measuring a volume of liquid, such as 1ml __**REFLECTION**__ Beside learning about their uses, we also learn how to draw them out. I find it very difficult to draw them accurately. Our science teacher, Mrs Chu, is very particular about the drawings. Hence, i have practiced and try to draw them as accurate as possible. All straight lines had to be drawn with a ruler, and the angles had to be very accurate as well. It was very hard to make accurate illustrations, and I had to erase and repeat my drawing a lot of the time. However, I eventually learned to make accurate drawings. ~ Issue 3 (Vernier Callipers and Micrometer Screw Gauge)  I have learnt how to use a vernier callipers and micrometer screw gauge. I also feel that one must be very careful when measuring objects with vernier callipers and micrometer screw guage because there may be zero errors and many other things to take note of. I encountered lots of difficulties at first. I pondered about it. After some time, I finally know how to use it. We conducted experiments with it. I learnt how to use it throughout. The precision of length measurements may be increased by using the vernier callipus and micrometer screw gauge. These instruments have a main scale (in millimetres) and a sliding or rotating vernier scale. You must note that you have to be very careful while using them. Parallex error is one of them. To prevent this error, you have to read the reading directly above the reading. After learning about the vernier callipus and micrometer screw gauge, i wish to learn how to use other laboratory apparatus. ~ Issue 4 (Density) Density cause different objects to float or sink. Besides that, I have learnt how to calculate the density of an object correctly. I personally feel that calculating the density of an object is very difficult. I thought that it is easy at first. However, after a few attempts i lost my confidence. Fortunately, some of my classmates are willing to help. I spotted my mistake in the problem sum. I understood why i was wrong. I feel that it is an interesting topic. From the picture above, i can infer that it is caused by density. Density caused different objects to float or sink. Even an iceberg floating on the water is caused by density. The reason behind this is because that the iceberg is less dense than the water. In other words, the water is denser than the iceberg. Therefore, i am interested in density and eager to find out more about it. ~ Issue 5 (Conversion of units) Conversion of units is challenging. I overcame my difficulties and managed to learn how to convert the units correctly. I feel that conversion of units is rather challenging. I have lots of mistakes while converting them. I am confused about it. Fortunately, i managed to understand it well enough to convert the units correctly after much practice and revision. I feel that i am rather distracted in class by my classmates. They are loud and noisy. They talked to me while i was trying to take down notes. I am irritated by them. Fortunately, i managed to ignore them and prevented them from distracting me further. I also feel that the conversion of units is very much related to mathematics. I will work hard on this to do well for this section. ~ Issue 6 (Science is everywhere) I learned how science is used in different occupations. For example, the nurse measure the heart beat and the temperature of the patient using technology which is related to science while a chef uses different amount of heat and ingredients to create different taste. Journalist use IT to lighten their work and Architect draw blue prints of a building and caculate the stability of the building. Last but not least, the police officer uses the speed gun to catch speeders on the road. Ultimately, all of these activities are all related to the world of science. Therefore, science is everywhere in our daily life. ~ Issue 7 (Drawing Graphs) I learnt how to draw graphs correctly. One must also be very careful when drawing graphs. There are many things to take note of such as, labels, x & y axis, curve, title, and many more. I feel that drawing graphs are easy at the beginning. However, upon realising the standards, i find that it can be a challenge. Firstly, we have to draw the graph on a graph paper specially designed for drawing graphs. Next, we must write the title of our graph which we always forget. Next, we also have to label the axis and then draw out the graph. There are many areas where the teacher can penalize you. Even the slightest mistake is penalized. Hence, i will practice to be more familiar with it to reduce careless mistakes. ~ Issue 8 (Classification of matter) I have learnt how to classify matter. It is interesting because the classification of matter can make everything more organised. I have learnt about classification of matter in primary four. I personally feel that it is not that difficult. The inter-conversion of states is telatively easy compared to the other topics. However, i will not be complacent. I will still put in effort and practice this topic often. I will look forward for something interesting in this topic. ~ Issue 9 (Elements, Compounds & Mixtures) __**SUMMARY**__ There are many parts of the cells to remember. Despite this, the topic is relatively easy and striaght foward. __**REFLECTION**__ We have learnt about this topic in the primary school so it is not so difficult understanding the details. However, we learn about more parts of the cell with long names. I got some trouble remembering its functions and name. However, after revision i remembered the names and functions of it. ~ Issue 11 (Solutions and suspensions) __**SUMMARY**__ This topic is rather fun and interesting. There are only a few properties of solutions and supensions. Hence, I did not have much trouble with this topic. __**REFLECTION**__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">I feel that this topic is also quite striaght foward. However, there are some areas that is quite complicated. Such as the properties of solution and suspension. The properties of a solution is that it is homogeneous and no particals sinking to the bottom of the container when left stagnant. However, a suspension is not homogeneous and there will be particals at the bottom of the container. After some guidance from my classmates, i understood the topic better without any doubts. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">~ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Issue 12 (separation techniques) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">__**SUMMARY**__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">The topic is difficult. There are many different apparatus and names for different things. However, I managed to understand the topic. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">__**REFLECTION**__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">I thought that this topic is very easy. However, to my dismay, it is quite hard and there are many things to remember. There are many names for different things. The apparatus, residue,filtrate and steps more the separation techniques...many more... After brushing up my knowledge, i understood the topic without any doubts. I have enjoyed the experiments for this topic as there are more things to preoccupy us during the lab lesson.
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 * __SUMMARY__** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">It is tough to remember the constituent elements in every compound. It is also tricky. For example, compounds that end with -ate contains oxygen. I managed to understand the topic. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">__**REFLECTION**__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">It is very difficult learning this topic. I feel that it very hard to remember the uses of the elements. It is very confusing. I am also very uncertain on compounds. I can't remember the constituent elements of the compounds. As of the properties, it is not confusing at all as there is only a few important things to remember. Mixtures is quite easy and striaght foward. After much practice and self revision, i managed to understand the topic. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">~ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Issue 10 (Cells)