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CHAPTERS BY WACEK KIJEWSKI

# CHAPTER XII:  Various Stages in Practical Work

Sine experiential nihil sapienter sciri protest.
(“Without experience one cannot understand anything”)

Quoted by J.L. Lewis in The Proceedings of the
International Conference on Energy Education 
IUPAP/ICPE, GIREP, UNESCO
Budapest, 1989

In scientific work you are often faced with problems to which you have to find the answer by doing experiments, i.e. by observations and measurements. The practical work should be carried out in an organised way and should have the following stages:

Stage 1 Formulating the aim of the experiment

You need to fully realize what you intend to find out by doing the experiment. Often this could have been explained by the teacher or supervisor. Discuss the aim with your colleagues.

Stage 2 Designing and planning the experiment

Having understood the aim, you need to design an experiment that gives an answer to the problem raised. Plan the exact manner in which the experiment is going to be carried out. You should realize that it will be carried out with apparatus that is available to you. If necessary discuss your list of apparatus including ranges, scales, quality of instruments etc. with your supervisor.

Stage 3 Performing the experiment

Carry out the experiment and record measurements and observations.

Do you like anecdotes, interesting and challenging problems, fun facts, puzzles, jokes related to metric system and measurement? Read them in the 2006 on-line edition of "SI Units, Conversion and Measurement Skills",186 pp.

Wacek Kijewski
Metric Fun
"SI Units, Conversion and Measurement Skills"
PO Box 2358 George 6530 South Africa
tel/fax: +27 44 884 0486

About the Author

Wacek Kijewski: born in Poland, studied electronics, telecommunication, acoustics and pedagogy. He taught science in Poland, Hungary and became Lecturer and Principal Tutor in Nigeria and Botswana.
Mr. D.D. Kuhlmann, Ag Registrar, University of Botswana (UB): “Dr W. Kijewski has performed his duties very satisfactorily and proved that he is an excellent teacher with substantial relevant experience. He has an admirable character which coupled with his professional integrity enabled him to established an excellent rapport with students.”

Dr. L.S. Molema, English Dept., UB: “Students speak warmly of him, especially his capacity for making them understand and feel confident in a subject that they had previously been inadequately prepared for and were therefore scared of. I have just finished editing the proofs of his new book: “S I Units, Conversion and Measurement Skills” in which his teaching style, so popular with his students, is evident.”

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