THE LABORATORY IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION: THIRTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH DEVELOPMENTS, IMPLEMENTATION, AND RESEARCH

Abstract

Since the 1970s', the author was involved in researching the laboratory work. The research focused on the various issues concerning the laboratory as a unique learning environment. Most of these studies are included in this review. They were mainly conducted at the Department of Science Teaching, The Weizmann Institute of Science, in the context of chemistry curriculum development, implementation and evaluation. The review of the research studies and its related publication is organized under the following key issues: (1) The chemistry laboratory: A unique mode of learning, instruction, and assessment. (2). Assessing students' performance and achievement using different modes of presentation in the chemistry laboratory. (3) Students' attitude towards and interest in school chemistry laboratory work. (4) Students' perceptions of the laboratory classroom learning environment. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract.: 2004, 5, 247-264]