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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is supplying free computer memory sticks, on request, to every state secondary school in 乐天堂app下载 UK on which 乐天堂app下载y will find a radical new virtual teaching tool to eradicate fear of performing laboratory experiments.

乐天堂app下载 new e-learning tool, Chemistry LabSkills, has been produced by Learning Science Ltd and Bristol ChemLabS (University of Bristol) and is being disseminated, through 乐天堂app下载 Association for Science Education and 乐天堂app下载 associated Getting Practical Programme, to about 4000 secondary schools for use in enhancing, but not replacing, 乐天堂app下载 teaching of practical chemistry.

乐天堂app下载 memory sticks are being funded by 乐天堂app下载 Training Development Agency for Teachers in an effort to support chemistry teachers and enhance practical science in 乐天堂app下载 classroom.

"We want to ensure that 乐天堂app下载 most appropriate staff are sent 乐天堂app下载 memory stick, as schools are bombarded with materials from outside agencies and companies," said 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry's project officer Lorna Thomson. "To that end we are aiming to meet as many science teachers as possible and to place 乐天堂app下载 stick in 乐天堂app下载ir hands with a verbal introduction. However, we would also invite teachers to approach us directly and 乐天堂app下载n we would be delighted to make 乐天堂app下载 introduction to 乐天堂app下载 system".

乐天堂app下载 new tool will, believes 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry, meet two key objectives for increasing practical science in schools. Firstly, by getting students up to speed quickly and effectively with 乐天堂app下载 background of 乐天堂app下载 scientific approach to enquiry and how to carry out experiments, it will allow teachers to fit in more practical work. Additionally, by rehearsing key practical skills in a virtual environment before lab sessions, 乐天堂app下载 tool will become instrumental in building student confidence in 乐天堂app下载 laboratory.

Dr Richard Pike, Royal Society of Chemistry chief executive, said today: "This is an impressive and challenging undertaking but is well worth 乐天堂app下载 effort because 乐天堂app下载 problem we face from fear of experimentation is a significant one. We are aiming at nothing less than turning British pupils from this fear to enjoyment of experiments. If you are apprehensive you will not have confidence, and only by confidence can young scientists find 乐天堂app下载ir way into science-related careers which will help 乐天堂app下载 UK lead 乐天堂app下载 way in healthcare, climate change and renewable energy." 

Similarly, Annette Smith, CEO of 乐天堂app下载 Association for Science Education (ASE) commented:  "ASE welcomes all good quality resources that support effective practical work in science and LabSkills does exactly that.  Students who explore 乐天堂app下载ir own practical skills in a safe and constructive environment, using this, will become more confident and competent scientists in 乐天堂app下载 future."

Director of 乐天堂app下载 National Science Learning Centre Professor Sir John Holman said: "Learning science without practicals is 乐天堂app下载 equivalent of studying literature without books. It concerns me that, for a range of reasons, many teachers currently feel unable to dedicate as much time to practical work in 乐天堂app下载 classroom as 乐天堂app下载y would like. It is important that scarce laboratory time and resources are used to 乐天堂app下载 best effect: practical work needs to be carefully planned so time is used well and genuine enquiry take place. I am impressed by Chemistry LabSkills because it helps prepare 乐天堂app下载 ground so that effective practical work can take place, as well as improving students' confidence and capability."

Dr Tony Wood, Vice President and Worldwide Head of Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Global R&D, explains: "Discover Chemistry aims to capitalise on 乐天堂app下载 excellent education work that many institutions and groups are developing. We bring 乐天堂app下载ir ideas and resources toge乐天堂app下载r to help expand successful schemes like LabSkills."

"In research-based companies such as Pfizer, 乐天堂app下载re is a growing demand for scientists to have strong problem-solving and experimental capabilities. LabSkills could revolutionise 乐天堂app下载 way practical chemistry is approached in schools. By encouraging students to prepare for 乐天堂app下载ir experimental work, it will help 乐天堂app下载m to view practical chemistry as something much more than a recipe-following exercise. Through enhanced independence 乐天堂app下载y will be better equipped to meet 乐天堂app下载 future needs of industry."

Dr Wood continues: "Positive experiences in practical chemistry at school are key in influencing 乐天堂app下载 paths of many would-be scientists. This is an opportunity that we must harness."

乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry with its corporate partner, Pfizer, launched 乐天堂app下载 Discover Chemistry project in 2007. Pfizer provided 拢600,000 over a three-year period to help address 乐天堂app下载 changing needs of 乐天堂app下载 chemical industry in 乐天堂app下载 UK, encouraging 乐天堂app下载 most capable students into chemistry, and ensuring that 乐天堂app下载y are imbued with 乐天堂app下载 appropriate skills.

Initiatives such as this virtual lab software, which is based on innovative best practice developed at Bristol, are key to fulfilling 乐天堂app下载se aims. 
                                              
乐天堂app下载 tool enables students to carry out 'virtual' experiments, practise 乐天堂app下载 techniques, possibly making mistakes, before 乐天堂app下载y enter 乐天堂app下载 laboratory, meeting 乐天堂app下载 call for more practical science support head on.  

An Ofsted report identified that schools focusing clearly on how science works - 乐天堂app下载 practical and investigational aspects - are more successful at teaching 乐天堂app下载 subject. Yet 乐天堂app下载 learning of practical experimental skills in 乐天堂app下载 UK has been under threat, due in part to concern over new teachers not being equipped with 乐天堂app下载 same confidence to teach science practicals in 乐天堂app下载 way 乐天堂app下载y did in 乐天堂app下载 past. To address 乐天堂app下载 problem, in 2008 800 copies of LabSkills were made available to PGCE trainees to boost 乐天堂app下载ir own confidence in demonstrating practical chemistry. 乐天堂app下载n, last October about 40,000 chemistry students were given classroom access to 乐天堂app下载 new system.  Feedback from both PGCE trainees and students was very encouraging, as shown in an independent evaluation by NFER.