Adequate Science Classrooms, Labs, and Equipment
The Arkansas Science Teachers Association has worked over a year to develop a description of what constitutes adequate science classrooms, labs, and equipment for our schools.
To review these documents and others click on the links below:
2008 State Bid List for Science Equipment
Adequate Science Classrooms, Labs, & Equipment - Grade K-12
There will be new labs when the new science framework comes out in March 2006:
ASTA Recommended Hands-on Labs K-8
Recommended Science Labs 9-12
The following are estimated costs for science equipment that meets learner expectations in the Science Framework: Kindergarten - Fourth Grade $3,000-5,500, Fifth - Sixth Grades $38,000-$50,000, Life Science $20,000-30,000, Earth Science $20,000-38,000, Physical Science $20,000-30,000, Biology $35,000-50,000, Chemistry $30,000-50,000, Physics $40,000-55,000. Schools could use these estimates to compare their science inventories against these costs. It is also recommended that each primary school should budget $1,000 for replacement cost and middle school to high school science course should budget $2,000-3,000 for replacement and repair cost for science materials and equipment.
Each science teacher needs a laboratory in their classroom or nearby. If a lab must be shared, the science teachers involved should devise a fair schedule. Even a well-equipped science lab is of little value to a science teacher if other classes are scheduled into the lab. Science teachers need time to set up laboratory experiments during their preparation period and must be able to leave those experiments in the room during the day. They also need the opportunity to clean up after labs. It is dangerous to schedule other classes in laboratories. This practice may result in student injury or lost of equipment.
Classes should be scheduled so that the labs can be planned in a coherent manner. Like science classes should be scheduled in clusters. It is difficult to set up a physics lab one period, clear it out of the way, set up a chemistry lab, remove it for a biology lab, followed by another physics lab.
Each science teacher needs a phone with outside line, computer, projection panel, overhead, and scientific probes to demonstrate science programs or experiments. Five additional computers are recommended for student work.
All K-12 science courses in Arkansas public schools should be laboratory courses that require a minimum of 20% of the science instructional time be spent in hands-on laboratory experiences.
The science program will need the involvement and commitment of administrators, counselors and teachers. It will need an expanded budget if they plan to meet present state goals.
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