CBSE allows class 9 and 10 students to experiment at home, teachers welcome ‘self-learning’

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New Delhi: Last Friday, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) sent a list of 75 science experiments to all its affiliated schools, allowing students of classes 9 and 10 to perform at home. The list, curated by the academic section of CBSE, was prepared to tackle the pitfalls of practical study during school closures for the pandemic, and was lauded by teachers as a step towards “self-learning” Has been.

According to CBSE, the 75 experiments on the list can be done with raw materials that are readily available at home, and are “safe” for learners to perform on their own. However, the board has clarified that as of now, there are no plans to come up with similar experiments for class 11 and 12.

“What the board has introduced are all simple experiments that students can do at home. This is a welcome move; This will help them in self-education,” said Meenakshi Iyer, a science teacher at DAV Public School, Faridabad.

Nishant Agarwal, who teaches science to students of classes 9 and 10 in a government school in Delhi, agreed, but said there should be a similar provision for classes 11 and 12. “There are some experiments that seniors can do at home as well. The board should prepare a list of experiments for them also.”

Parents like Rekha Sharma, a science teacher in junior classes, who has a son studying in Class 10, have also welcomed the initiative. “The idea of ​​home experiments is cool. Students will be exposed to doing everything from finding raw products for their experiments, to setting up equipment on their own, he said, adding that he also teaches his students simple science at home. recommend to use.

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Which uses are on the list?

Students of classes 9 and 10 will no longer have to come to school to do simple experiments like evaporation, filtration and studying plant cells. They will be able to do this at home with the help of tutorials from CBSE.

“CBSE has designed a set of alternative experiments using simple, easily available household materials that the learners can use to perform these activities at their homes. The hands-on activities are designed to have similar learning outcomes for all laboratory experiments to be carried out in 2021-22 for classes 9 and 10,” the notice issued on October 29 read.

The board has also recommended a list of extracurricular activities to be undertaken by the students as part of their practical education.

CBSE said that all the activities included in the list are safe for the learners to perform on their own. “Although the activities and materials have been chosen to be safe for learners, teachers need to review these before handing them over and advise parents whether a specific activity requires supervision. CBSE In will provide an online training on the use of activities, details of which will be communicated separately,” the circular added.

For example, an experiment involves finding the pH value of acid and base substances using a pH paper/universal indicator. Students have been asked to experiment using things like turmeric powder, sodium bicarbonate (commonly known as baking soda) and lemon, which are easily available at home. A detailed YouTube video of CBSE’s Academic Unit gives step-by-step instructions on how to do the experiment and a detailed worksheet attached to the experiment tells students what values ​​they need to note.

(Edited by Polomi Banerjee)

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