General Laboratory Format

Each set of laboratory instructions consists of three basic parts:

1. Teacher Information
2. Student Instructions: These are minimal. Hopefully students will develop their own exact procedures from the computer set-up instructions and the teacher led pre-lab discussion.
3. A Generic Student Lab Sheet: Some labs may include additional sheets according to the needs of the lab.

Each lab is centered around a "Big Question" the students address by performing the lab.

Each lab will generally follow the outline below.

• The teacher presents the "Big Question" at the beginning of the class, and the students record this on their lab sheet.
• The teacher elicits possible answers to the big question to be used as the student's hypothesis. Some labs will require the class to come to a consensus on one hypothesis. Others will allow students to use their own hypothesis. The students record their hypothesis on their lab sheet.
• The teacher supplies any specific information the students need for the lab. This may include equations, explanation of term or any other specific knowledge needed to complete the lab.
• Students record this under important information.
• The teacher constrains the experiment by supplying the list of available equipment and materials and by giving instruction on the use of the equipment and materials. (Specific information on equipment use or set up will be included in teacher instructions)
• Students record the materials they use on their lab sheet.
• Students devise and record their set-up and procedures based on their hypothesis, the available equipment and the instructions on how to use the equipment.
• Students perform their procedures, record their data and perform and record any required calculations.
• Students formulate and record a conclusion based on their data.
• During the performing of the activity additional questions should be raised. Students record these questions and possible answers on the lab sheet.
• Upon completion of the lab the teacher leads a discussion of the individual group's results and the questions generated by the students.
• Extensions of lab can be derived from student's questions, suggested by the teacher, or obtained from the Teacher Instructions.

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