Improved cooperation between schools and science labs by adapting experiments to the curriculum

Abstract

Science labs have repeatedly shown their impact on high school students for increasing the interest in natural sciences and engineering [1]. Due to the fact that pupils are experimenting independently, their natural interest in research can be reactivated due to improved intrinsic motivation. However, with the increasing density in school curricula - in Germany especially caused by the reduction of the high school duration by one year - many teachers do not find the time to visit science labs due to their often extracurricular topics. For our lab SinnTec, which is focused on sensors as the “technical senses”, and the experimentation platform VenDASys we are currently adapting existing experiments and examples for improved compatibility with the regular school curricula primarily in Physics. The goal is to integrate the science lab as much as possible into the standard curriculum to reach most pupils.