Reflections-term+1

This is the reflections page for term 1. This will also be where I will include all the components that I have mentioned earlier on in the 'Home' page. Enjoy reading!

__**Teaching and learning issues**__
In term 1, basically we were taught on different types if apparatus used in the lab. I was particularly interested in the about the do's and don'ts in the science lab. It was quite interesting and yet enriching to get to know what we can and cannot do in the lab. For example, we must wear safety glasses while mixing or heating substances. This is one of the do's. We must not run, push or behave roughly in the laboratory. This is one of the don'ts. It is very important to know what and how to behave in the lab so that no mishaps, even if it is minor, would happen. It was quite an easy topic to learn so there were not much difficulties. However, there was one part which was quite difficult for us; the memorizing of the do's and don'ts. However, I realized that I could deal with this problem by constantly revising what the teacher has taught us on and as we read the notes regularly, we will memorize the points in the end. If I were to teach on the different types and uses of apparatus, I will teach the class in such a way that I will let the students have hands-on experiences on the apparatus. I will let them touch and maybe even use them so that they will be more experienced with what they can use and what are dangerous to use. This will leave them with a deeper memory etched and they will be more sure of this topic.

__**Termly performance reflections**__
In term 1, my target initially was to obtain an A1. My actual result was an A1, and I scored 34/40. This is among the top and I am very happy to actually obtain that result. I have my target achievement for the month! I think that the contributions to my good results is maybe because I was more concentrated in class and basically, it was an easier topic and paper. I did revise before exam but I think that I could have done even well if I had done more revision then I had done. I think that I also sacrifice most of my time on unnecessary stuffs that distracted me from concentrating and delaying my schedule. I hope to achieve at least attain an A1, maintaining my current grades. I would try to refrain from doing those useless stuffs that have pull me down. I hope that it would be a better term next term.

**__Hands-on experiences__**
In term 1, we did 9 different practicals. The first practical was about us 'getting to know the Science Laboratory'. We were to draw out a layout of the science lab and we will also get to know the hazards and the item of equipments in the lab. The second one was about 'hot stuff'. We learned the anatomy of a Bunsen Burner. There are many parts in a Bunsen Burner. Let me raise some of them:
 * Barrel> To raise the flame to a suitable height for burning. **


 * Collar> To control the amount of air entering the burner by opening or closing the air- holes. **


 * Air-hole> To allow air to enter the burner. **


 * Gas Jet> To enable the gas to rush out from the gas supply and to draw out air. **


 * Base> To support the burner so that it will not topple. **

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After that, we also got to experience the feeling of lighting a Bunsen burner. There are many steps and safety precautions to a successful lighting of a Bunsen burner. We must turn off the air-hole to prevent a __strike back__. A strike back occurs when the air-hole is open, and there will be too much air. The flame changes to a green color and produces a loud noise. The third practical is to investigate the differences between a luminous flame and a non-luminous flame. A luminous flame is orange in color while a non-luminous flame is blue in color. The flame of a luminous flame is unsteady while the flame of a non-luminous flame is steady. After that, we got to do an experiment and we were supposed to heat a substance in a test-tube. There were also many interesting and enriching experiments too. It was indeed a new level of science that we are actually touching on from the graduation of primary school. I felt that we can actually learn more from experiments rather than the teacher showing to us the experiment or just telling us the results that we will finally get. I learnt that actually doing science experiments are quite straight-forward, as we just have to go by the steps and take note of the precautions during the experiments. I also learned 'Precaution= Action+Reason'. It was indeed a very important principle to also take note of. ======

To provide more information about this setup, I sha ll include a picture of the Bunsen Burner. (See below for the photo)