Development of a Science Demonstration Laboratory in National University of Singapore

Abstract

Science demonstrations are a good way of promoting, teaching and learning science. This is provided that there exists carefully crafted “software” and communication methods to go along with the hardware. During the past few years, we have developed a Science Demonstration Laboratory at NUS aiming to play an active role in science outreach, science communication and science education. Our approach has evolved from an initial “show-and-tell” model to a more engaging “minds-on” approach where participants are consistently required to make predictions of the outcomes of scientific phenomena before witnessing the demonstrations. We also learnt that the education and development of talented science educators and communicators are crucial to ensure and project the effectiveness of a “hands-on”, “minds-on” approach to science education.

Effect of science virtual laboratory combination with demonstration methods on lower-secondary school students’ scientific literacy ability in a science course

“…Demonstration method is a learning method that is used as a visual aid to illustrate the application of scientific principles, and can help students understand abstract concepts (Lim & Sow, 2019 ; Hussain, 2020 ). Demonstration show promotes science and allows students, both the presenters and the audience, to explore phenomena (Fish & Cole, 2020 ).…”