Schülerlabore

Experimenting at an outreach science lab versus at school—Differences in students' basic need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and flow experience

“…Second, one of the characteristics that differentiate outreach science labs from schools refers to the physical facilities. Students who visit an outreach science lab can conduct hands‐on experiments with laboratory equipment to deal with topics that can only be discussed theoretically at school due to the material conditions (Euler & Schüttler, 2020; Garner et al, 2014; Goldschmidt & Bogner, 2016; Scharfenberg et al, 2019). While some laboratory equipment could be substituted by alternative equipment that is normally available at schools (see Section 4.4.2 and Table 3), other laboratory equipments such as photometers are not substitutable, as the specific functions of such materials are required to conduct an experiment.…”

“…For example, when comparing outreach science labs and subject-specific classrooms, one can identify environment-specific differences such as those related to the technical equipment that is available, the role of the support staff, and the educational focus (Euler & Schüttler, 2020;Hofstein & Lunetta, 2004;Scharfenberg, 2005). Students in outreach science labs can experiment using typical laboratory devices that are used in scientific research but often unavailable at school (e.g., photometers or micropipettes; Affeldt et al, 2015;Euler & Schüttler, 2020;Goldschmidt & Bogner, 2016;Itzek-Greulich, 2020;Itzek-Greulich et al, 2015;Maiorca et al, 2021;Scharfenberg & Bogner, 2013;Tal & Dallashe, 2019). Although there are a few schools with well-equipped, laboratory-like science classrooms, the spatial conditions of an outreach science lab and a subject-specific classroom at school are usually different.…”

“…By contrast, in the formal learning environment of school, an entire science class is taught and graded by one teacher (Eshach, 2007;Malcolm et al, 2003;Stecher et al, 2018). Moreover, while experimentation at school is limited to scheduled lesson times (e.g., 45-, 60-, or 90-min lessons), visits to outreach science labs typically last a half to a full day (Euler & Schüttler, 2020;Itzek-Greulich, 2020;Pawek, 2009).…”

“…Compared to science educational outreach programs in other countries such as science camps (e.g., Chiappinelli et al, 2016; Maiorca et al, 2021) and mentoring/research apprenticeship programs (e.g., Clark et al, 2016), in Germany, the so‐called Schülerlabore (outreach science labs) are commonly visited as part of a field trip (e.g., Scharfenberg et al, 2019). Programs with a focus on biology mainly address the classes of the upper‐level of secondary school (high school; Euler & Schüttler, 2020). The students perform hands‐on experiments in small groups cooperatively under the close supervision of the local staff comprised of “real” scientists and/or preservice teachers acting as tutors using laboratory equipment that is used in scientific research but not normally available at schools due to its high costs (Affeldt et al, 2015; Euler & Schüttler, 2020; Garner et al, 2014; Goldschmidt & Bogner, 2016; Itzek‐Greulich, 2020; Itzek‐Greulich et al, 2015; Scharfenberg & Bogner, 2013; Scharfenberg et al, 2019).…”

“…Programs with a focus on biology mainly address the classes of the upper‐level of secondary school (high school; Euler & Schüttler, 2020). The students perform hands‐on experiments in small groups cooperatively under the close supervision of the local staff comprised of “real” scientists and/or preservice teachers acting as tutors using laboratory equipment that is used in scientific research but not normally available at schools due to its high costs (Affeldt et al, 2015; Euler & Schüttler, 2020; Garner et al, 2014; Goldschmidt & Bogner, 2016; Itzek‐Greulich, 2020; Itzek‐Greulich et al, 2015; Scharfenberg & Bogner, 2013; Scharfenberg et al, 2019).…”