Constructivism in chemistry lab

Answer 1

This sounds like a question proposed by a chemistry education professor. I'm a high school chemistry teacher (16 years) and unsure why we push constructivism in chemistry labs. It seems unsafe to have kids design labs. Liability is much greater for the school. Well written labs will develop the skills students need to construct knowlege and attain understanding. Class discussion and post-lab analysis are wonderful opportunities for the student to use constructivism. Proponents of constructivism generally cover far less content than a more traditional approach to teaching chemistry. Very few topics in chemistry do students come to class knowing. Therefore they have little knowledge base to build upon. For these reasons, I will continue to be more traditional and resist constructivism as the only tool to teach chemistry. Teacher in Normal, Illinois

Answer 2

In a constructivist approach to teaching chemistry labs, students would be encouraged to actively engage in hands-on experiments, make observations, and draw their own conclusions. This involves students constructing their own understanding of chemical concepts through exploration and discovery, rather than just following instructions. The teacher's role is to facilitate this process by asking guiding questions and providing support when needed.