When students see first-hand what works –and especially when they see how and why things work – they draw meaning and understanding from their experiences. It is the best way to learn science and is why so much of science is taught using laboratory experiments. Better than listening to or reading about concepts, actually testing them out and coming to their own conclusions helps students to “get it” and then remember what they’ve learned.

Constructing Meaning

We all develop an understanding of the world we live in by evaluating experiences and matching them to what we already know. When students are involved in hands-on investigations, they observe the result, reflect on what they see, and determine what it means. They put it into perspective and construct new meaning through these new experiences. In the process, they not only learn the subject matter but they also learn how to test hypotheses and analyze findings, skills for life-long learning.

Scientific Techniques

Hands-on learning teaches students to use the tools and thought processes that real scientists employ. They use scientific instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, meters, and calculators to explore such things as air, water, insects, plants, and rocks. Teachers often take students on field trips to gather data. Traditionally, when they get back to the classroom, they analyze what they’ve seen and learned.

Hands-on with Probes

Student access to the scientific method is better than ever. Using notebook computers and probeware, students can go out into the field to observe, gather, and analyze the data where they are. They can do further analyses back in the classroom, but having the chance to experiment and see results right away reinforces their learning. And if they question the results, they can repeat the experiments easily.

By Gwen Solomon
From TechLearning.com