KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN
BENCHMARKING OF PHYSICS LABORATORY
Need for Physics Laboratories in Kendriya Vidyalayas
Hands-on learning has become a common phrase in science education. Like many other highly used terms and phrases, there are various interpretations of what is meant by "hands-on learning." Rather than attempt to offer a definitive operational definition, we present in this section a variety of viewpoints on what is meant by hands-on learning in science. Then we address the issues of whether hands-on learning is a new phenomenon and whether hands-on approaches will continue to have a continual impact on science teaching and learning in schools.
The importance of student investigation of basic scientific principles cannot be overstated. Hands-on learning is the only way students can directly observe and understand science. As students develop effective techniques for observing and testing everything around them, they learn the what, how, when, and why, of things with which they interact. These experiences are necessary if the youngsters of today are to remain "turned-on" to science and become scientifically literate.
Bench Marking of Physics Laboratories in Kendriya Vidyalayas
(A) Physical Facilities
S No. / Item\Faculty / Specifications1. / Standard Room Size/Dimension / Lab size with capacity to accommodate a group of 25-30 students for class XI & XII. Must have a working area of 8mx7m with 1mx1m circulation area, as per CBSE norms. It should be attached with teacher’s cum dark cum preparation room on one side. There should also be a provision of store room of area 3mx7m on the other side of the working area. Working platform, of height 85cm from floor with 65cm width, should be constructed on both side of the room with granite top.
2. / Store / Store must have sufficient no. of almirahs to accommodate the items, documents, stock registers etc.
3. / Teacher’s Room / For teacher to study and keep records, well equipped with furniture and inbuilt cup-board
4. / Power Supply / 15 electrical points ( atleast two sockets with 5A out put) for doing electrical experiments at a time and one LCD projector.
Fixtures such as tube lights and fans should have a s separate phase.
5. / Fire Extinguisher / Atleast one meant for all types of fires.
6. / Water Supply / Lab must have at least one water supply outlet and one wash basin
7. / Exhaust & Ventilors / Exhaust:- Min. two which can be increased as per volume of the lab.
Ventilators:- Six for min. light.
8. / Flooring / Flooring should be of tiles or with Kota stone
9. / Interactive Board & Display Board / One interactive visual Board located as suitable height to be easily visible by the students. Four display Board for display of important circulars and other related data.
10. / Teacher Table & Chair / One teacher table with drawer and formica top along with two chairs should be in the lab. These must be slightly higher in height than routine school furniture for better monitoring and demonstration.
11. / Personal Computer and Computer Table / One computer with latest configuration equipped with software for the syllabus as specified by CBSE for classes XI & XII a broadband connection, with printer and scanner fixed on a 3’x2’x2.5x size , single flat shelf at bottom.
12. / Mini Subject Library / Must be maintained so that students may refer to the books of their taste. Must include reference books, general magazines on Computers, notices of various Olympiads.
13. / LCD Projector / Preferably roof mounted.
14. / First Aid Kit / A first aid kit with burnol mild antiseptic cream.
15. / Air Conditioner / Air Conditioners with separate wiring/phase other than that of electrical points for IT equipments.
16. / Student’s stools / 25 to 30 stools to accommodate 25-30 students in a lab and should be of suitable height to provide ample leg space under the tables and should have broad leg area to provide more stability.
(B) Usability/Usage
S.No. / Item/Facility / Specifications1. / Practical / The Syllabi allocated should be divided judiciously term wise i.e. from April to August and October to February. Practicals and activities to be interlinked with syllabi.
2. / Conduct of Projects / Projects must emphasize creativity and originality. These must supplement the syllabi but must be slightly above the syllabi. A list of projects must be pre-planned judiciously and can be administered either individually or in groups as per the interest of the students. Students need to be guided time to time in completion of the work. One project in one term should be preferred. Project should be of investigatory or analytical in nature.
3. / Demonstrations / The Syllabi should be supplemented with demonstration/activities. Videos available on www.youtube.com can also give an additional edge to the teaching.
4. / Workshops/Seminars / Workshops/Seminars should be conducted in the school.
5. / Science Exhibition / Vidyalaya level, cluster level, regional level, national level.
6. / Public Demonstration / Once in a week in morning assembly, alternatively physics chemistry and biology.
Keeping your lab functional
S.No. / Item/Facility / Specifications1. / Maintenance of Equipment / The equipment must be maintained functional and necessary repair work whenever needed must be carried out periodically. The microscopes and other equipments should be checked periodically.
2. / Fire extinguisher / Must be refilled every year and pressure gauge should be checked periodically.
3. / Electrical Maintenance / Power points should be checked for any naked wire, non functionality, switch failure etc. Check the tube lights and exhaust regularly.
4. / Stock Verification / Must be regularly done at the year end to have check on articles.
5. / Condemnation / The equipment that becomes non functional due to routine wear and tear or with time should be condemned yearly.
6. / Procurement / The equipment condemned, needed as per changes in syllabi must be procured immediately.
Proposed Layout
MINIMUM INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED
SR NO. / ITEMS / LIFE IN YEARS1. / BALANCE (SPRING) / 2
2. / BALANCE (PHYSICAL) / 5
3. / WEIGHT BOXES / 5
4. / RESONANCE TUBE APPARATUS / 5
5. / VERNIERS CALLIPERS / 2
6. / FORTINS BAROMETER / 2
7. / METALLIC CYLINDER / 2
8. / METAL SPHERES / 5
9. / METER SCALE (WOODEN) / 1
10. / S G BOTTLES / 2
11. / SPHEROMETERS / 2
12. / SCREW GAUGE / 2
13. / STOP WATCHES / 5
14. / INCLINED PLANE / 2
15. / GRAVE SAND’S APPARATUS / 3
16. / YOUNG’S MODULUS / 3
17. / CONCAVE MIRRORS / CONSUMABLE
18. / CONVEX LENSES / CONSUMABLE
19. / GLASS PRISMS / CONSUMABLE
20. / GLASS SLABS / CONSUMABLE
21. / SCREEN (GLASS) / CONSUMABLE
22. / LENS STAND / 1
23. / OPTICAL BENCH / 3
24. / WIRE GAUGE STAND (IRON) / 2
25. / TRAVELING MICROSCOPE / 7
26. / COPPER CALORIMETER / 5
27. / SOLDERING RODS / 2
28. / THERMOMETERS / CONSUMABLE
29. / MAX MIN THERMOMETERS / 2
30. / MAGNET (BAR, SPHERICAL, CYLINDRICAL, SHOE) / 3
31. / COM[PASS NEEDLES / 2
32. / IRON STAND AND CLAMPS / 2
33. / HELICAL SPRING APPARATUS / 3
34. / AMMETER / 3
35. / VOLTMETER / 3
36. / GALVANOMETER / 3
37. / THUMB PINS / CONSUMABLE
38. / ALL PINS / CONSUMABLE
39. / ELECTRIC BELL / 1
40. / LACLANCHE CELL / CONSUMABLE
41. / GOLD LEAF ELECTROSCOPE / 2
42. / GLASS RODS / CONSUMABLE
43. / EBONITE RODS / CONSUMABLE
44. / SILK/FLANNEL / CONSUMABLE
45. / WATER BATH / 2
46. / SLIDE WIRE BRIDGE / 3
47. / POTENTIOMETER / 3
48. / ONE WAY & TWO WAY KEYS / 3
49. / RESISTANCE BOXES / 3
50. / RHEOSTAT / 3
51. / RESISTANCE COILS / 3
52. / TAPPING KEY(TWO WAY) / 3
53. / TANGENT GALVANOMETER / 5
54. / INDUCTION COIL / 5
55. / TORCH LAMP HOLDER / 1
56. / SWITCHES / 1
57. / CUTOUT FUSES / CONSUMABLE
58. / PLIERS / 3
59. / TUNNING FORKS / 2
60. / SOLDER (ELECTRICAL) / 1
61. / GRADUATED CYLINDER / CONSUMABLE
62. / SPIRIT LEVEL / 2
63. / BATTERY BOXES / 2
64. / CONNECTING WIRES / 1
65. / DRAWING BOARD / 2
66. / BAROMETER TUBE / CONSUMABLE
67. / MICROSCOPE / 5
68. / PIN HOLE CAMERA / 5
69. / SHARP FILE / 2
70. / PLANO-CONVEX LENS WITH BIG APERTURE / 2
71. / DIP NEEDLE / 5
72. / ELECTRONIC BUZZER (FREQ 500 TO 1000Z) / 2
73. / REFRACTING TELESCOPE / 5
74. / CYLINDER (VISCOSITY APPARATUS) / 2
75. / CHINA DISH / 2
76. / CAPILLARY TUBE / CONSUMABLE
77. / METALLIC TUBE (BOTH END OPEN) / 5
78. / STANDARD CELLS / CONSUMABLE
79. / WATER JET OF DIFFERENT NOZZLE SIZE / 1
80. / GEOMETRY BOXES / 2
81. / POLAROIDS / CONSUMABLE
82. / IRON WIRES / 2
83. / TOOL KIT / 3
84. / PLANE MIRROR / CONSUMABLE
85. / ELECTROMAGNET / 2
86. / GAS BURNER / 2
87. / VAN DEGRAFF GENERATOR WORKING MODEL / 3
88. / ROUND BOTTOM FLASK / CONSUMABLE
89. / NEWTON LAW OF COOLING APPARATUS / 5
90. / SONOMETER APPARATUS / 5
91. / OHMS LAW APPARATUS / 5
92. / STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER / 3
93. / ZENER DIODE CHARACTERISTIC APPARATUS / 3
94. / PN JUNCTION CHARACTERISTIC APPARATUS / 3
95. / PNP/NPN TRANSISTOR CHARACTERISTIC APPARATUS / 3
96. / LASER POINTER / 1
97. / DEMO MODEL OF VERNIER CALIPER / 5
98. / DEMO MODEL OF SCREW GAUGE / 5
99. / DEMO MODEL OF SPHEROMETER / 5
100. / LDR / CONSUMABLE
101. / LED / CONSUMABLE
102. / RESISTORS / CONSUMABLE
103. / CAPACITORS / CONSUMABLE
104. / DIODES / CONSUMABLE
105. / TRANSISTORS / CONSUMABLE
106. / MULTIMETER DIGITAL / 2
107. / HOOKS LAW APPARATUS / 1
108. / EXTENSION BOARD / 1
109. / PARALLELOGRAM FORCES APPARATUS / 3
110. / RUBBER PAD / 1
111. / BEAKER / CONSUMABLE
112. / SCREW DRIVER / 1
113. / HOLLOW GLASS PRISM / CONSUMABLE