A datalogging experiment to investigate the cooling curve of naphthalene was done for the class of 3E1. A temperature sensor and a PDA were used to collect temperature data every minute. Before the start of the experiment, instructions were given to the pupils on the procedure of the experiment and how to use the PDA with the datalogging equipment. Pupils tabulate their readings in the practical worksheet before they commence on the experiment.
Learning Points/ Things to be improved
- As some pupils are more apt visually, it would be better that an exact experimental setup was displayed on the teacher’s bench prior to the start of the experiment.
- A mercury thermometer could have been used to verify the accuracy of the temperature sensor before the start of the experiment.
- Some pupils found difficulties in following the procedure of the experiment. It would be good if the detail steps were video-taped and shown to the pupils before the start of the experiment to better support the learning of pupils.
