Whats wrong with cookbook experiment? a case study of its impacts toward learning outcomes of pre-service physics teachers

Abstract

Cookbook experiment is familiar type of experiment in which students have to follow some procedures to carry out a practicum in laboratory. Due to its easiness, not only students in high school but also students in college recognized this. However, there is no clear role of cookbook experiment toward learning outcomes of pre-service physics teachers. This study investigates the impact of cookbook experiment toward learning outcomes. A single case study was carried out in one private university in east Indonesia in which all participants were students from physics department. The finding results reveals that cookbook experiment was used almost eight years. This affected two pivotal aspects of students: achievement of cognitive learning ability and students’ interest toward learning process. In these aspects context, the cookbook experiment did not facilitate students who are pre-service physics teachers to construct and strengthen deep understanding, to make a joyful and meaningful learning process, and to flourish the diverse skills needed by students such as higher order thinking skills. This article indeed presents a consideration of the implication of physics practicum in Indonesia in deep insight and wider context.

Lab courses for prospective physics teachers: what could we learn from the first COVID-19 lockdown?

“…At University C, the open inquiry tasks in the lab courses for prospective physics teachers were used long before COVID-19 lockdown and thus continued in the online setting. This approach is fulfilling the objectives stated by Prabha [22] and Yusiran et al [23] that lab courses should be designed to allow scientific inquiry instead of standard 'cookbook' lab instructions. Similarly, Holmes and Wieman [24] state the same for all introductory lab courses, not just ones for prospective physics teachers.…”

The Needs Analysis in the Development of Level of Inquiry with Project Assignments Model to Promote the Creativity of Prospective Physics Teachers

“…The recipe book experiment did not facilitate PPTs to build and strengthen deep and meaningful understanding. The application of a cookbook practicum will eliminate the main aspects of inquiry, such as questioning, predicting, planning experiments, drawing conclusions based on evidence based on one's observations, arguing with peers, and forming coherent arguments (Bertsch et al, 2014;Yusiran et al, 2019). This inquiry activity will undoubtedly encourage the development of scientific skills and student motivation in studying physics.…”

Teaching microbial analysis techniques for the characterisation of baker's yeast through the inquiry-based laboratory

“…Laboratory activities in undergraduate programs with a "cookbook style" have been widely used (Rokos & Zavodska, 2020;Yusiran et al, 2019). Traditional approaches can be relied upon to demonstrate critical scientific principles and teach technical skills (Rokos & Zavodska, 2020;Wästberg et al, 2019), but traditional approaches have not yet integrated enough to encourage students to fully participate in the same investigative process as actual scientific investigative conditions (Madhuri et al, 2012;Yusiran et al, 2019). Student failure in designing experiments or observations is also associated with traditional laboratory teaching using manual cookbooks, which are still used on campus (Fadaei 2022;Zeidan & Jayosi, 2014).…”