15 December 2006
There is a demand for schools which teaches science, physics, and biology with laboratories to support all students’ activities. So, in the teaching learning process, the students do not only hear their teachers’ explanation but they can also experiment these activities on own. Therefore the students are able to understand the knowledge conveyed deeply and develop information on their own in details. Through the experiments and hypothesis, students can get the essence of empirical science and then, through the exact concept, the students are also able to learn systematically science. In other words, learning is not only how many factors, concepts, and principles, but also how you can understand and reach new knowledge through the learning process.
There is an expectation that school should have complete instruments in the laboratory. It will support all activities in doing research by implementing three concepts of science, such as scientific attitude, scientific process and scientific product. It is absolute fact that to do experiments schools need up to date laboratory instruments. During this learning process students are able to understand the natural phenomena before they make conclusions. At last, they must be responsible for the objectivity of their experiments they have done because sometimes a new theory or discovery of a new product may appear from this process in the laboratory.
To optimize the use of laboratory, an able laboratory assistant is needed. Therefore, every activity in the laboratory could be always under the watch full control. For example, the laboratory assistant should make the schedule for using the laboratory, taking inventory of instruments and disposing the used materials. Of course, this will help tremendously the teachers in teaching and learning process. Indeed. The existence of laboratory assistant makes easier both for the students and the teachers when doing experiments in the laboratory.
The good relation and collaboration between the teachers and the students and disciplined atmosphere enable the students to reach optimum achievements in the fields of science.
Writer: Jani Permana, S.Pd (Saint Peter’s Labor Officer)