The Importance Of Practical Work In Chemistry

Practical work in science has several purposes including: practicing skills, developing specific knowledge and understanding of science, and developing an understanding of the processes of scientific enquiry. It has the potential to contribute to meaningful learning in science (SCORE) (2008). However, the present study was considered a number of factors that influencing practical works in chemistry in secondary schools a case of Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. Key factors among them are teachers’ poor knowledge of practical work, full timetable of chemistry teacher for the theoretical classes, absenteeism of the teacher at practical classes, late commencement of teaching practical class; lack of awareness and motivation from school managements and unsafe working environments, lack of separate chemistry laboratory, lack of equipment in the laboratory, number of students larger than the

However, on the outcome of this study, it can be concluded that: teachers-related factors that influencing practical work in chemistry are teachers’ poor knowledge of practical work, fulltime table of chemistry teachers for the theoretical classes, absenteeism of the teacher at practical classes, late commencement of teaching practical class; lack of awareness and motivation from school managements and worrying working environments due to lack of waste disposal policy and regulation in the schools. Laboratory-related factors are lack of separate chemistry laboratory, lack of equipment in the laboratory and too short period allocated for practical work. And also law attitude students’ toward practical work in chemistry. Moreover, the roles of ICT within practical work in chemistry are unquestionable. Indeed, the result revealed a low level of expectation that developments of ICT would improve practical work in science is influencing practical work in