[Catalist] Science Lab Refurbishment

[Diana Tomazos]

Hi everyone,

I visited a school in Chicago last year that had a few aspects I liked........

The desks were on rollers at the base of each leg that locked. (I know some classes have these here also.)This enabled the classroom to be rearranged for group work, 
experimental work,
or  (heaven forbid) a teacher centered lesson in minutes.  

Sinks and Gas taps were situated on the benches around the walls.
In order to conduct experiments the desks were pushed next to the side wall's bench and the Bunsen burners were placed in the middle of the desk with access to the gas taps. Students also had access to the sinks for lab work.

A rail was permanently attached on the wall that went around the room at the height of 2000 mm above the floor.  The rails were used to hang white boards (600mm x400mm). The white boards were designed so that they could lie flat on the desk or be hung on the rails. The whiteboards had a lip at the top that enabled them to easily hook onto the rail. 
White boards were used in a variety of ways:-
Collaborative group work flat on the desk 
Hanging on rails to share ideas, data, etc
Other groups could walk around the room and add data to them etc 
Teachers could use them innovatively.
The white boards were stored hanging on a rack like an upside down rack that you stack the dishes in when loading up your dishwasher. Only the whiteboards hooked onto the rack unlike the way the dishes stack in-between the rack.

There were 4 data projectors hanging from the ceiling orientated to project to their own screens located at the group's corner. The students working in their  groups could choose which projector to use in their classroom by airdropping  their work etc. (This could be designed in other ways with the use of monitors I'm sure you're school would choose the latest technology to do this.)

Other considerations would be standard requirements for the use of chemicals etc. in WA.
Perhaps the following  link may be useful?
http://www.flinnsci.com/teacher-resources/laboratory-design/laboratory-design-articles.aspx

Budgets are always our limiting factor. :(  
I thought I would share this information as "food for thought"
If you would like to contact me for any further information about my NSTA trip to Chicago ........
Or if you would like to find out how to apply to go to the NSTA next year I can also help you there as well. 
Please email me at Diana.tomazos at education.wa.edu.au
Kindest regards,
Diana




Sent from my iPhone
> On 21 Jul 2016, at 3:37 PM, VanderLinden Jake <jake.vanderlinden at frsa.asn.au> wrote:
> 
> Gregory
>  
> I would love to see the pics.
>  
> Jake Vander Linden
> Science LAC
>  
> Phone:
> (08) 9497 0000
> Address:
> 18 Robin Hood Avenue, Armadale WA 6112
> Postal:
> PO Box 474, Armadale WA 6992
> Web:
> www.frsa.asn.au
>  
> <image001.jpg>
>  
> From: Catalist [mailto:catalist-bounces at lists.stawa.net] On Behalf Of Greg Munyard
> Sent: Thursday, 21 July 2016 1:38 PM
> To: jaclyn mcgregor; catalist at lists.stawa.net
> Subject: Re: [Catalist] Science Lab Refurbishment
>  
> Hi folks
> I have emailed Jaclyn separately with a refurbishment we have just completed her at Kennedy Baptist College. We have separated teaching and prac areas in each lab (8 labs) and this is introduced some very different classroom dynamics. For a start, the engagement is greatly improved with students much closer to the teaching surface, and the prac areas make working there a lot more organised and easy to control.
>  
> If you’re interested, I can a forward a pic. Let me know and I’ll send a link.
>  
> Regards
>  
> Gregory Munyard
> Senior Teacher – Science
>  
> <image003.jpg>
>  
>  
>  
> From: Catalist [mailto:catalist-bounces at lists.stawa.net] On Behalf Of jaclyn mcgregor
> Sent: Tuesday, 19 July 2016 6:38 PM
> To: catalist at lists.stawa.net
> Subject: [Catalist] Science Lab Refurbishment
>  
> Hi everyone,
> Looking for ideas..
> Does anyone have any suggestions for improvements that could be made to some fairly dated science labs in a high school?
> The school has informed me the budget is fairly limited so no major structural work and they are looking for value for money.
> What do you love about the science lab you teach in?
> What annoys you about your science lab?
> What is a recent improvement that has been made to your science lab?
> What would you change if you could?
> Thanks in advance for your opinions.
> Jackie Drake
> Kalgoorlie
>  
>  
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