Handbook Table of Contents > Teaching Methods > Science Labs
Indiana University Teaching Handbook
Teaching Methods
Science Labs
Introduction
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 much in the way professionals do. Often, though, labs are presented as mere recipes in which students follow precise instructions to arrive at a conclusion whose importance is not clear. In order for labs to be effective, students need to understand not only how to do the experiment, but why the experiment is worth doing, and what purpose it serves for better understanding a concept, relationship, or process.
