Giving the Cyclotron a Whirl

🌀 Trying out a cyclotron! Made from a mixing bowl, copper tape & powered by a Van de Graaff generator⚡. The Ping-pong ball circled the bowl, but not too fast 🏓💨 #DIYcyclotron #sciencefun

 

Protest Vote

 I'm not answering this question because we didn't do or have demonstrated to us this required practical experiment is the answer I get when I go through exam papers in science with the students. the students just don't have the experience to answer

Carbon and Silicon

 

At first, students mistook them for shiny metals. But examining hardness, conductivity & density revealed their true nature: Graphite (carbon) & pure silicon! 🧪🔍 #ScienceExploration #MaterialsProperties

Pasco Wish List

 Something to go on my wish list for this year is a good-quality linear air track from @Pascoscientific. When I have used one before, they haven't been too good. My only problem is finding a very quiet air pump in the UK

Math isn't just Algebra and Geometry

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Math isn't just Algebra and Geometry! 🤯 AQA level 3 in Mathematical Studies covers practical topics like Taxes, Student Loans, and Mortgages. Finally, useful things in Math you wish you were taught earlier! 🙌 #MathForLife #RealWorldMath

Using a spring Bond Model

Used a spring bond model to show the contrast between specific heat capacity and specific latent heat before conducting our experiments #physics #education

 

Evolution

 How do various lifeforms evolve? And why do some vastly different animals resemble each other? So many questions, so much to uncover. #evolution #biodiversity

Zip line expt

 Just did the coolest experiment with @pascoscientific tension protractors! Used them to calculate angles for a zip line, then measured distances and forces by sliding down a weight. So much fun! #STEMeducation #physicsrocks

Earth Day investigating Minerals

As Earth Day arrives, the students are looking at some of the Earth's minerals and how they are running out, and some will be depleted in a few years if we continue raising awareness on resources and climate change.
 

Copper Sulfate and Magnesium

A simple displacement reaction between Magnesium and Copper Sulfate during revision to simulate memories of all the different reactions and experiments the students had done. Before doing this, they could remember just a few; after, they could tell me all about many.

 

pH Curve

Sometimes I don't have a lot of time to do some experiments especially when doing revision, but using the @Pascoscientific Wireless pH probe and Capstone I can set up the experiment and do it in minutes and produce classic results HCl and NaOH

 

Using the Casio CG50 for integration

Using the @Casio CG-50 to integrate between two curves in seconds! Students sometimes stress about non-whole number answers, but no worries - this calculator checks for accuracy. #math #calculators #integration

 

Latent Heat of Vaporisation

The diagram is given but students struggled to improve the experiment in the exam due to a lack of experience from doing too few experiments. Playing with equipment helped improve their understanding of Latent heat of Vaporisation #experiments #education

When it comes to science education, hands-on experiments are an essential part of the learning process. Students who are able to conduct experiments and observe the results firsthand are more likely to retain the information they learn and develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter. However, not all students have the opportunity to conduct a sufficient number of experiments before they are faced with the challenge of an exam.

This was the case for a group of students who were given a diagram for an experiment involving the concept of latent heat of vaporisation. Despite being provided with a clear diagram and instructions, many of the students found themselves unable to improve upon the experiment in the exam. The reason? They simply lacked the experience necessary to fully grasp the concept.

It's a common problem in science education: students are often limited by the number of experiments they are able to conduct in a classroom setting. This can be due to a variety of factors, including time constraints, limited equipment, and safety concerns. As a result, students may find themselves struggling to understand complex concepts and apply them to real-world scenarios.

In this particular case, the solution was simple: the students were given access to the equipment used in the experiment, allowing them to play around with it and gain a better understanding of how it worked. This hands-on experience proved invaluable, helping the students to improve their understanding of the concept of latent heat of vaporisation and apply it to the exam question at hand.

This experience serves as a reminder of the importance of hands-on learning in science education. While diagrams and instructions can be helpful, they are no substitute for the real thing. By providing students with access to equipment and the opportunity to conduct their own experiments, we can help them develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter and set them up for success in their future scientific endeavours.

 

Neucleotide

 Exploring the composition and function of DNA through various models at different scales. Fascinating to see how purine and pyrimidine rings bond through hydrogen bonds! #DNAMysteries #ScienceFun #HydrogenBonds

Data Abstraction

 Data abstraction is a powerful concept in computer science that involves simplifying complex information by grouping related data together into a single unit. It's used in everything from programming to data analysis to make information more manageable. #dataabstraction #computerscience

Creating notes

Maximizing note-taking with the Wacom Tablet! Use open book (it's free!) to capture notes and images, save as PDFs, and send them straight to your phone. #studentlife #productivityhack

Transition Metals and their salts

So colourful and yet so toxic. The familiar metals used daily are Iron, Cobalt, Nickel and Copper, yet their salts are less well known, and for all their beauty, many are very toxic to the environment. Learning about ores and extraction and safe disposal methods in the lab.

Daily metals like Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, and Copper are so familiar and colourful, but did you know their salts are often toxic to the environment? It's essential to learn about safe extraction, disposal methods, and ore sources in the lab to protect our planet. #metals #toxicity #environment #education

Circle theorems

Learning Math: Mastering circle theorems and proofs - a must-learn for all the GCSE students and A level as well tackling math! #Mathematics

Transition Metals Video

 Taking a quick look at the coloured Compounds of Transition Metals Salts https://

Force Protractor

A fun experiment using a @pascoscientific tension protractor trying to hand a picture straight when the holes in the frame were put in unequally. The students need to use Maths to calculate the angles and then test out their working hypothesis to see if they are correct. #science #experiment

Tellurium Arrives and is put to work

Just got the tellurium and it's already coming in handy for revising astronomy facts! So much more efficient than struggling with diagrams or trying to design something in the prep room. #Tellurium #Astronomy

Inside the body

In biology, we check out different body parts at different times. So examining a whole body and mapping out how everything relates was fascinating. The students were surprised to see that there was no empty space; everything was packed in. #biology #anatomy

Learning Analog Comuting

Analog computers can do some things much easier than their digital counterparts! It was amazing to see students discover the possibilities. #analogcomputers #digitalcomputers #STEMeducation
 

The 5p and a feather experiment

 This does work much of the time, but I find that the feather can build up some charge as it moves down the tube and then electrostatic attraction causes the feather to not just slow down but stop altogether.

Testing an unknown chemical

 Identifying unknown white powders through physical tests like flame tests and chemical tests using NaOH, Halide, Sulfate and Carbonate tests. Even a negative test result can be helpful for students familiar with the process. #Chemistry #ScienceEducation

Air Pressure in a Balloon

Just measured air pressure inside a balloon with a @pascoscientific sensor - turns out it's the same as outside! If betting was allowed, I could have made a fortune on this! Even after repeated experiments, my students still thought it was a trick. #scienceexperiment

 

Teaching Parametric Integration

Parametric Integration is not one of the easiest things to teach, but when the @Casio GC50 emulator calculator does different things to the real thing, then this makes life a bit more difficult

 

Thermopower

Discovering the power of electricity and volts! We wanted to know where those volts went? The answer is as heat, as demonstrated by @Lascells' Thermopower unit. #electricity #volts #heat #Thermopower

 

Chromatography of Chlorophyll

Which solvent works best to display various pigments in a green leaf? Experimenting with water, acetone, alcohol, and mixtures of acetone and alcohol, amongst other solvents to see which resolved the pigments the best. No real good answer in what we tried. #science #biology #experiment

 

Microprocessor lab

 Got out the ancient but still working HP microprocessor lab to show and teach the students. Some hand assembly made the programming interesting. Wonderful bit of kit and still being used for computing 40 years on. #vintagecomputing 

Separating Oil and Vinegar

 Who knew separating oil from vinegar would be so tough for students? I demonstrated how one layer sits atop the other, but they insisted on filtering, distilling, and even freezing it! None of them suggested using a separating funnel. #ChemistryStruggles #LabFails