Two simple laboratory experiments for addressing the issue of microplastics in the aqueous environment in science teaching are developed. Extraction of microbeads from cosmetic products using a coffee pad machine makes students aware of the potential emission of microplastics into the environment by using these products. Density separation of microplastic particles from beach sediment samples on the other hand demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with the problem once the particles have entered the environment. Using the low-cost experimental setup facilitates integration of the microplastics' topic into laboratory teaching making science lessons vivid and more interesting.
In the past 20 years, science education in schools has increasingly been supported by extracurricular learning opportunities. From the point of view of pupils and teachers, student laboratories make meaningful contributions to complement the teaching of science. Studies have shown that participation in student laboratories has increased students' motivation and situational interest in science. It is not always possible, however, for some schools to take advantage of extracurricular learning opportunities at universities or science centers. In order to offer a supplementary course for these schools, a number of mobile extracurricular laboratories have been designated. Little is known, nevertheless, about whether mobile extracurricular offerings are equally capable of increasing motivation or if the already mentioned positive effects of student laboratories at universities can only occur there. It remains to be seen whether these effects are linked to, and can only be measured at, a university as a place of learning. In a quantitative study, students (N = 538) were asked to fill out a questionnaire in a pretest, post-test, and follow-up test design. The students were allocated as classes to the two intervention centers, at the school and at the university, where they participated in a one-day program offered by the GreenLab_OS student laboratory of the University of Osnabruck. Both offerings were rated very positively by the pupils. However, it turns out that the mobile GreenLab_OS has a greater potential for increasing self-concept, interest, and enjoyment and that the boredom and frustration that students experience in subject lessons can be reduced in the mobile setting.
Zusammenfassung
Eine Vielzahl politischer Entschlüsse legen sowohl international als auch in Deutschland fest, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung langfristig und dauerhaft in den schulischen Kontext zu integrieren. Viele Initiativen wie Fridays For Future verdeutlichen darüber hinaus die Relevanz einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung in der heutigen Zeit und die hohe Motivation und das Interesse der Schülerinnen und Schüler. Um diesen Anforderungen gerecht zu werden und an das Potential anzuschließen, werden verschiedene Unterrichtsinhalte zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit in der Reihe „Fridays For Future und Schule?“ dargestellt und durch Experimente, Diskussionsleitfäden und entsprechendes Unterrichtsmaterial ergänzt. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Bedeutung der Nachhaltigkeit in Gesellschaft, Wissenschaft, Politik und Schule. Konkrete Unterrichtsinhalte zum Thema Stickstoff finden Sie im Artikel „Fridays For Future und Schule? – Teil 2: Nachhaltige Unterrichtsvorschläge zur Stickstoffproblematik“ in der nächsten Ausgabe. Beiträge zu den Themen Ernährung und Mikroplastik folgen.
Spectrometers play a decisive role in the education of A-level and/or under-graduate students in the field of natural sciences. They are capable to demonstrate atomic emission, transmission, reflection and fluorescence spectra, but can be used for wavelength filtering, as well. Here, we present a do-it-yourself spectrometer setup based on a Czerny–Turner design that (a) can be used for all measurement types with one and the same setup and (b) is capable to spectrally resolve atomic emission lines. We use LEGO® bricks for the optomechanical construction and combine it with affordable, but high-quality optical components and linear array based on a charge-coupled device (CCD). A modular design is implemented and allows for a quick change between the various measurement techniques, but also fosters the technological understanding of the underlying systems’ optical design.
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