How to Design an Excellent School Science Laboratory?

A vector illustration of the interior of a school's science lab, showing science equipment and tools
How to Design an Excellent School Science Laboratory?

The best place in school to learn science practically is the school science lab. A well-equipped science lab enhances students’ learning skills and practical knowledge. It helps them understand science’s theoretical concepts through experiments. A perfect science laboratory must make students enjoy the subject, imbibe the concepts and score well in their academics. Thus, a science lab must be designed appropriately to achieve desired results with the help of a professional lab furniture manufacturer and supplier in Chennai like Inspace School Furnitures. Keep reading to know more about designing an efficient school science lab.

Physical Factors to Consider While Building Science Labs in School

When looking into establishing an efficient science lab, the prime features to consider are as follows.

Location

The right location makes a huge difference in contributing to its efficiency. You have to choose a place with sufficient natural light as it helps students get accurate results in science experiments. As most of the science experiments are based on appearance and colour changes, they are visible better under natural lighting. When using different gases and chemicals, a well-ventilated space is necessary as a good supply of fresh air will help exhaust the harmful gases. Thus, design a well-lit science lab without coloured or artificial lighting. Give more attention in making the room airy to ensure the safety of the students and technicians working in the lab space.

Layout

An efficient lab must have a layout that aids both theoretical and practical learning. The lab must accommodate various science disciplines, and its design must permit students to apply their acquired knowledge effectively. Most importantly, the layout of a science lab must be flexible and colourful with lab decors as it will help students study with interest. The essential requirements in a science lab include:

  • Dry working area
  • Demonstration area for teachers
  • Practical area for students

Segregating the lab space into wet and dry areas requires greater square footage. If you do not have greater room space, try furnishing the lab accordingly. The other ways to create effective layouts include installing furniture and workstations. You have to ensure that the layout allows the practical activities to happen flawlessly. An environment that is colourful, fun, and safe is the key to igniting curious young minds.

Storage System

As science labs have various equipment and apparatus like test tubes, flasks, beakers, bunsen burners, etc., a properly planned storage system is a basic need. It helps organize the entire lab space and makes the experimenting process happen at ease by reducing the time searching the apparatus. Thus, storage provisions are an integral part of any lab designing process.

Accessibility

Sufficient movement inside the lab area with a clear pathway is important. It improves the accessibility to various laboratory spaces, and good furniture plays a key role here. The seating arrangements must be designed in such a way that the teacher gets a clear view of all the pupils in the classroom. You can use lightweight furniture to move them around easily and shift the seating from time to time depending on the class activity. As science labs have to adapt to various learning activities to improve student interaction, movable benches are always ideal for creating a flexible lab system. Making the science lab suitable for group and individual study enhances an effective learning environment. Thus, while designing the science lab, ensure that all the required needs are satisfied to facilitate good learning based on the curriculum’s expectations.

Importance of Durable Materials for a Science Lab

A science lab has dangerous chemicals, gas, fire, and equipment operating at high temperatures. The safety of both students and faculty is fundamental and a major concern during the design process. A poorly designed science lab has a greater risk of accidents and will negatively impact the technicians, staff, and pupils. Thus, choosing the right materials will ensure the safety of the space and reduce maintenance costs. Lab safety features have to be installed, and the technicians must be trained to use them effectively. A centralised on and off mechanism for the electrical apparatus, gas taps, and other hazard-causing equipment is mandatory. The class teacher must have easy access to control the switch in an emergency.

It is important to take proper care during the designing stage to establish the required safety. Materials play a significant role in adding value to the learning experience. A few of the points to consider while installing durable materials include:

  • There are more chances of spilling chemicals on the floor, and so the floors have to be fire, chemical, water, stain, and heat-resistant. Another important criterion is to make the floor surface with better grip and anti-skid materials to prevent any accidents.
  • Use stain resistance and durable wall paints that are easy to maintain. Eggshell paints will be the right choice of paint to serve the purpose. Lighter shades will illuminate the room better and help students get accurate results in the experiments.
  • The ceiling has to be finished in a way that is useful to the room. The height of the room plays a major role in assisting concealing services.
  • The table-top in the working space must be made with materials resistant to scratches. Choosing wood and other synthetic laminates will be durable against harsh chemical spillage and resistant to many external traumas.
  • Using thick vinyl wherever possible in the science laboratory will help absorb sound better.

Integration of Technology & Its Significance

Integrating technology is an essential requirement in today’s world scenario. Technology has been hard-wired in our lives, and it is important to use hi-tech equipment to suit the current needs. Technology helps to enhance and facilitate the experimenting process. Seamless integration is necessary to ensure that there is no unnecessary hindrance during the practical activities. To ensure this, here are some basic requirements.

Computers: These are fundamental for simulating experiments and logging data. A reliable Wi-Fi connection: To support uninterrupted research. Whiteboards: Taking notes and drawing diagrams are the basic part of any curriculum while teaching a science subject. The display system must be effective, and interactive whiteboards are the most affordable ones to be installed in any laboratory. However, positioning them in an area that offers a clear view for the entire class is paramount.

The Takeaway Thus, paying close attention to safety, technology, lighting, seating, layout, and location is essential for any lab designing process. Realizing the importance of a flexible learning environment is the number one step to making the right design choice. When overlapping the practical science with the theoretical concepts, the space has to be established in a way that is comfortable for both students and teachers. Take great care to invest in high-quality, durable materials that effectively blend both functionality and aesthetics. Inspace School Furnitures is a premium lab furniture manufacturer and supplier in Chennai with product customisation options. With a seamless finish and stylish designs, we also incorporate ergonomics and create the most functional lab furniture in various shapes and sizes.

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