Laboratory Classes in Chemistry Texts of Secondary Level and Issues of Their Quality Improvement

Abstract

It is well known that the acquisition of knowledge in natural sciences in school is closely related to the training of practical capabalities of the students. Even chemistry, as a natural science discipline is related to this factor. The 9th year Albanian scholar system, during the teaching process, encounters a wide range of problems of different nature. Their evidentation, as well as the difficulties that are met during the training of practical capabilities of the students, is the main goal of this paper. A whole study of the altertexts demonstrates the difficulties encountered by the students during the laboratory classes. The wide variety of chemicals in laboratory works mentioned in different textbooks makes it very necessary the standartization process. Another issue for the authores is if the experiments and the suggenstions presented in each text book are the most representative for each topic. The organization way of laboratory classes/works is another issue to be considered when studing altertexts. Taking in consideration the time of experiment development, the number of the students present in class, as well as the the time to complete the results and discussion for each experiment, this paper propounds some ideas in order to improve this important teaching component. Based on the experience of foreing contries, that the experimental work should not be limited only during the class time, it is suggested that giving experimental taks for homework would serve not only for the enforcement of the practical capabilities of the students, but also for the better assimilation of chemical knowledge. Focusing on specific topics, it is clearly evident that not all the teaching themes can be illustrated experimentally. The impossibility of experimental realization of chemical knowledge, as a conseguence of the lack of the materials, makes it necessary the use of better experiences. Using of internet or computer confrontes the implementers with a variety of difficulties which will also be analized in this paper.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n2p240