Hands-on Learning - Teaching Tools for Biology Classes

Q-teach Animal Respirometry Packages, designed for teaching and hands-on experimentation on the principles of insect, small mammal and fish respirometry (CO2, optional O2) placed in flow-through chambers. Two different animal biology teaching kits are available - with or without an O2 analyser and with different measuring chambers. Animals are not harmed during the short term measurements!

Q-teach Photosynthesis Package, for teaching and hands-on experience on the principles of photosynthesis, plant respiration, and transpiration in plant leaves placed in a flow-through chamber.

The VSI-teach belowground ecology kit is designed to introduce root and soil ecology topics to a wider audience - making the 'hidden half' of ecosystems visible and accessible. The kit consists of rhizoboxes, stands and a manual on how to carry out simple but effective experiments with plants and soil. Just add soil, seeds and water!  Details coming soon!

The concept of 'hands-on learning', championed by both parents and educators, is often seen as a key factor in nurturing children and young adults with a lifelong passion for learning and improved academic performance. So what does 'hands-on learning' really mean, and why does it have such significant benefits for students? Continue reading

Let's look at both the concept and the benefits. Hands-on learning is thus an approach to education in which children learn actively through hands-on engagement. Instead of passively absorbing information from a teacher or instructor, students immerse themselves in the subject matter, creating something or solving a problem. While certain subjects, such as chemistry or physics, may immediately spring to mind when discussing hands-on learning, this educational philosophy can be seamlessly integrated into almost any subject including biology - if appropriate experimental tools are available. It provides students with dynamic, hands-on experiences that enhance the learning process. Examples include problem solving in maths, conducting laboratory experiments in science, or building circuits and operating 'robots' in a technology class. Key benefits of hands-on learning are:

Engaging learning: Hands-on learning appeals to different learning styles, including visual, auditory, literacy and kinesthetic learning. Kinesthetic learning, or learning by doing, is often overlooked but is a crucial aspect of hands-on education. The engagement fostered by active learning has been consistently linked to academic success, leading to higher test scores and achievement.

Practicing skills: In addition to engagement, hands-on learning allows students to practice and reinforce the skills they've learned. Practice is a key factor in developing skills and retaining information. For example, science classes often combine traditional learning methods with active learning concepts in laboratory sessions to improve understanding and retention.

Real-world application: One of the challenges in education is to help children understand the relevance of what they are learning. Hands-on learning provides a tangible way for parents and teachers to demonstrate the real-world application of knowledge. Through active creation - whether it's a small experiment, an essay, or a construction project - students see the tangible results of their learning and skills.

Fostering creativity: Creativity is a muscle that needs regular exercise. Hands-on learning offers students the opportunity to exercise their creative skills in a variety of subjects, not just art and music. Encouraging creativity in subjects such as science and maths can lead to innovative thinking and novel approaches to problem solving.

 

At its core, hands-on learning is a multifaceted approach that actively engages students, provides opportunities to practice skills, demonstrates real-world applications and fosters creativity across subjects. Despite its proven benefits, integrating hands-on projects into the curriculum remains a challenge, especially for schools with tight budgets and colleges/universities with large science classes. However, the many benefits make hands-on learning tools a valuable investment in a child's or virtually any person's educational journey.