Promote understanding with practical work

By Phil Naylor2019-03-27T09:27:00

An image showing a female student dressed in a lab coat, holding a bow and aiming her arrow at the centre of a target shaped like a chemical round bottom flask

Source: © Claudia Flandoli

When experiments build knowledge

Research supports the premise that students enjoy practical work, but some hands-on lessons simply promote the following of instructions, rather than increasing students’ scientific understanding and abilities. As teachers understanding what a practical seeks to teach is key to developing our students’ knowledge.

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