Week 6

This week’s class, we have been given a chance to engage ourselves in Micro Computer Based Laboratory (MBL). MBL is one of the strategies in Designing Application Tools.

This is very new to me because I have never experience it before. My group and I, we have chosen an activity from the topic Electricity. We use Voltage Current Sensor in order to conduct the experiment.
There are a few steps that we followed while conducting the experiment. The details are in below;

Voltage Current Sensor
1. The sensor is being plugged in to the computer.
2. EZscreen or DataStudio is selected from the window or programme files.
3. The voltage leads is being connected to one battery. The red lead is connected to the positive of the battery while the black lead to the negative.
4. Choose “Table” from the list of items in Datastudio.
5. Click “Start”
6. The voltage and ampere of the battery is displayed on the screen.
7. The data is being recorded on a piece of paper.
8. Step 3 to 7 is being repeated with 2 and then 3 batteries.

After engaging ourselves with MBL, I can say that it is very user friendly, practical and it gives me enjoyful experience engaging myself with the tools. Is this strategy (MBL) suitable to be used in primary Science classroom? Every strategy, there are pros and cons.
This strategy is suitable to be used but only for Level 2 students. This is because it is user-friendly and safe to use especially when an experiment requires dangerous substance like acids and bases. The data collected is very fast and accurate. The data can also be converted to graph and table by just a click. This is very convenient for students to see the whole picture and concept of an experiment fast. However, teacher need to be well-trained so that each function of DataStudio can be used to the fullest.

On the other hand, this strategy also has its lack. This is because Pasco (e.g. Voltage Current Sensor) can’t be used for all experiments. Moreover, basic process skills cannot be integrated or acquired as students will not get the chance to learn how to use certain basic apparatus like thermometer and ammeter.

There are a few advantages and disadvantages that my group and I have discovered.

ADVANTAGES

User friendly Uses computer solely.
Manipulative skills can be acquired.
Data achieve is very precise.
Saves time in collecting and tabulating the data.

DISADVANTAGES

If there is no electricity it cannot be used anymore

Students cannot acquire science process skills. This is because all the data are ready and students do not need to measure.

It can only engage with some lab apparatus such as battery, bulb and beakers.

The cost is also very high. Not all the students can have their own unit of Voltage Current Sensor and use it simultaneously.

All in all, we have gain new experience and new exposure. Hope that one day, we can let our students to experience this strategy.