Thursday, February 7, 2013

soar like an eagle

When writing up lab exercises, students must report on "cause of error."  Now a mistake is not an error.  "we poured too much in..."  Well do it again.  "We made a math error..." go back and check your math. 

An error is something keeping you from getting the accepted results that no matter how careful you are, you have no control over.

such things are

Human error in making measurements, "measure twice cut once" anybody?

Two people can measure with a ruler and get close measurements but not the same...the eye can see different things.

"the chemicals may be old."  Well guys this is fine...I'm cleaning out the stuff from the last teacher and no telling how long some of those chemicals have been  in there.

Today I got a doozey of an error.

"Disfunctional lab group."  Erum...I can't argue with that.  Groups of teenagers with their drama problems.

Though I did suggest to the student part of lab groups is to help the other people.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Nonsense.  One hundred fifty years people said there was no more science to discover, then quantum physics came.  Even individual discovery is possible.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/02/03/is-scientific-genius-extinct/
Nonsense.  One hundred fifty years people said there was no more science to discover, then quantum physics came.  Even individual discovery is possible.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/02/03/is-scientific-genius-extinct/

Friday, February 1, 2013

quote of the day

Single replacement lab.

Great, lab.  Students see all the signs of reactions.  Color change, precipitate formation, gas formed.

Simple lab, and excellent chance to develop lab skills.  Rinse everything with distilled water, keep your goggles and glove on.

Put the metals in the test tube and add solutions.

Student, "there's nothing happening."

Lab buddy, "fool, we haven't put the solution in yet."

"Oh."