Review of Hands-On Laboratory Experiments Employing Household Supplies

Abstract

The possibility of conducting laboratory experiments at home without using commercially available kits, which might also be overly expensive, seems to be a suitable approach for a distance chemistry laboratory. Thus, several hands-on experiments with household supplies have been developed aiming at fostering students' laboratory competencies, as in a face-to-face chemistry laboratory course. This paper presents a scoping review mapping this type of experiments and identifying their characteristics to guide chemistry educators in using them with a more effective manner. The review includes the publications that have appeared as full-length articles in scientific journals during the period 1992−2021.

Distant science practicals–COVID-19 experience from Czech lower secondary schools

“…Schedule changes such as later start times and less synchronous teaching typical of other schools in the Czech Republic were also confirmed in our sample grammar schools (Pavlas et al, 2021). Despite a significant number of studies describing the possibility of transferring a hands-on activity to a distance form suitable for the lockdown case (Salta et al, 2022), its frontal form prevailed in Czech schools during distance education (Pavlas et al, 2021). Our data showed that demonstration experiments, in particular, were used significantly less during distance education than for face-to-face instruction, despite the fact that the experiments were generally rated as useful and fun by teachers and students alike, and demonstrations could be made online.…”

MóviLab: An Educational Strategy to Promote Chemistry and Science among Schoolchildren and Teenagers in Far Rural Areas of Colombia

“…In this manner, we aimed to promote the appropriation of information while cultivating the curiosity of students about science. For the design, we had to consider the fact that the participating students had limited access to educational laboratories and that they had weaknesses in regards to scientific background and to the development of scientific skills and critical thinking. , The design was based on the use of pedagogies focused on research . Each kit contained the materials listed in Table and a manual titled “Exploring the fun side of chemistry with Meyer-UIS”.…”

“…The delivery and costs of the kits were covered by the project to facilitate the participation of the students. We should remark that, in this case, the families of the participating students belong to a population that is considered economically vulnerable and in which local access to the materials included in the kits may be very limited, hence becoming costly . On the other hand, and fortunately, the young promoters involved in the project had extensive skills in hosting and moderating remote sessions and in using social networks for academic purposes.…”

“…MoviLab activities were thus designed and implemented in the fashion of an itinerant laboratory that helped promote the social appropriation of science via homemade chemistry experiments. 15,16 ■ METHODOLOGY…”

“…In a figurative way, this implied that the project aimed at transforming houses and homes into places for scientific experimentation. MóviLab activities were thus designed and implemented in the fashion of an itinerant laboratory that helped promote the social appropriation of science via homemade chemistry experiments. , …”