Science | Resource | Virtual Laboratory and Field Study Guidelines

Resource
Virtual Laboratory and Field Study Guidelines

Our goal is to provide you with as many effective, rich laboratory experiences as possible. Sometimes this means
that virtual options and field options are part of our courses, allowing you to use apparatuses that are too
expensive or dangerous, or getting you to focus on the environment near you.
Labs where the materials are not in front of you require a different approach than more traditional lab activities.
Some labs may be truly virtual labs, while others may be field studies that require a computer to analyze data. In
all cases, when you do a lab, think about the various settings that the lab might be done in and ask yourself if you
feel that you could complete the lab in that setting. For example, if you are using a virtual microscope, be sure that
you are also thinking about how a real microscope would look, feel, and work.
Virtual experiences will not be exactly like real experiences in the lab. Pay strict attention to the safety
considerations that you would think about if it were a real lab. When doing field studies, take precautions in
assessing your local environment, which may have wild animals and poisonous plants, bad weather, or other
dangers that are a natural part of the area you are studying.
We have worked hard to see to it that virtual data are as much like actual data as possible. In most cases, the
data that you record and analyze will not be the same as someone else's, and will be subject to the uncertainty
and error that you would find in a similar real-life lab. Keep these ideas in mind as you work on virtual labs and
field studies. You never know when you might be doing a similar procedure in a different setting.
Safety in the Lab
Scientists understand that conducting experiments involves a certain amount of hazard and risk. They have
identified certain safety practices and guidelines that address the hazards and risks involved in laboratory work.
Follow these practices and guidelines and use common sense to ensure your safety in the laboratory.
Lab Setup
 Make sure your lab area has adequate ventilation. When possible, open windows; otherwise, turn on the
fan switch on the thermostat to the ON position. Set up an electric fan to help ventilate the lab area.
 Keep drawers and cabinets closed to prevent physical hazards.
 Identify a location with easy and immediate access to fresh, running water. This is important for flushing
eyes and skin in case of contact with chemicals.
 If you are using an area where food is prepared or consumed, secure all food items in such a way as to
avoid contamination.
 Keep a fire extinguisher in the lab area and know how to use it.
 Post the number to the nearest poison control center near a telephone. You can find this number by
calling the national poison control number: 1-800-222-1222.
Personal Protection
 Wear gloves throughout lab preparation, the entire lab procedure, and during cleanup when using
ammonia. Always dispose of the used gloves before leaving the lab area.
 Wear clothing you can remove easily in case of an accident. Clothes should cover the body from the neck
to at least the knees.
 Wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes. Do not wear high heels, shoes made of woven materials, or
sandals in the lab area.
 Tie back long hair, and remove jewelry before entering the lab area.
Lab Protocol
 If possible, have an adult or peer present while conducting all labs.
 Never ingest anything in the lab. Eating, drinking, and chewing gum are not allowed.
 Do not ingest, taste, touch, or smell any chemicals.

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 Science | Resource | Virtual Laboratory and Field Study Guidelines
 Flames are not allowed in the lab area when using flammable gas or liquids.
 Keep chemical and solution containers closed until they are needed.
 Assemble laboratory apparatus away from the edge of working surfaces.
 Never pipet by mouth.
 Do not shake filled test tubes or beakers, unless directed to do so in the lab procedure.
 Never place materials on the floor, unless directed to do so in the lab procedure.
 Never leave an experiment unattended, unless directed to do so in the lab procedure.
 Always check glassware, and discard any with chips, breaks, or cracks in a safe manner.
 Clean up broken glassware as soon as it is safe to do so, and discard in a safe manner.
 Clean glassware before returning it to storage.
 Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after cleanup and before eating or drinking.
 Clean up spills immediately.
 Always discard used and spilled chemicals and solutions down the drain, diluted with plenty of water.
 K12 instructs you to dispose of chemicals in the same safe manner that you would dispose of any excess
household cleaner, paint, or motor oil. One environmentally friendly disposal alternative, offered in many
areas, is a household waste disposal event. These events are held periodically by the local waste
disposal agency and offer a safe method of disposing of household chemicals, such as the chemicals
used in K12 lessons. We recommend you contact your local agency for the availability, schedule and
location of any events in your area.
General Procedures
Follow these General Procedures each time you conduct an experiment. They will help you develop good lab
practices.
Setting Up and Maintaining Your Lab Area
 Read through the entire procedure before beginning any lab.
 Review the list of materials prior to any lab because you may need to supply several items. Gather all
materials in your lab area before beginning any lab.
 Set up a lab area where you can organize your materials and have room to set up your lab. (For most
labs, a countertop or table will work well.)
 Always keep a copy of the Laboratory Guidelines in your lab area. Follow all procedures for Lab Setup in
the Safety in the Lab section of these guidelines.
 When using measuring utensils in several steps, wash and dry the utensils between steps.
 If you do not complete a lab, store all materials out of the reach of small children or pets until you are
ready to complete the lab. Notify everyone in the home that you are conducting an experiment, and tell
them not to touch it.
Cleaning Up Your Lab Area
 Clean up and properly store materials after each lab. (Materials and equipment are reused in labs.)
 Thoroughly clean your hands, as well as surfaces, containers, and like items, with soap and water.
Thoroughly dry materials before storing them.
Taking Good Measurements
Take careful measurements during a lab, and repeat tests until you are confident about your results. If you think
there is an error (for example, you may not be certain you started the stopwatch at the right time or you think you
miscounted the time), do the procedure again.
 Length: Measure in centimeters (cm) or tenths of a centimeter, depending on the detail you are able to
observe.
 Time: Measure in seconds (s) or minutes (min).
 Mass: Measure in grams (g).
 Force: Measure in newtons (N).
Recording Data

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 Science | Resource | Virtual Laboratory and Field Study Guidelines
Use a data table to record your data. Make sure your data tables are prepared before you do the lab. You may
use scratch paper to record your data during the lab, and then transfer your data to a computer for a final report.
Plotting Data
Plot the independent variable on the x-axis (horizontal) and the dependent variable on the y-axis (vertical).

Drawing Trend Lines

Use trend lines to show the general relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Trend lines
may be straight or show a curve, but they are not an attempt to connect every point on a graph.

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