Why Practical Work Alone Doesn’t Teach Science
By Julian Dance —
Tags: Science Teaching, Cognitive Science, Learning Science, Science Curriculum, GCSE, Pedagogy, Practical Science
Practical work is central to science teaching, but experiments alone don’t guarantee understanding. Julian explores what research says about effective science learning.
By Julian Dance - Head of Big Ideas at SideCog During UK Science Week, classrooms across the country come alive with experiments. Chemicals fizz. Magnets repel and attract. Flames change colour. Practical work is one of the most powerful tools we have as science teachers. It captures curiosity and makes the subject feel alive. But it also raises an important question. Does practical work automatically lead to understanding? In my experience as a Head of Science, and through the research on learning, the answer is clear: Activity alone is not the same as learning. When Activity Isn’t the Same a