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There are three laboratories of Physical Sciences available at Arsakeia Psychiko Schools.

One of them facilitates supervisory teaching and experimental practice for Elementary school pupils on the subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Geography, while the other two labs are at the disposal of Junior and Senior High schools.

ImageLABORATORY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AT ARSAKEIO PSYCHIKO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

This laboratory (also known as Elementary schools Chemistry lab) was founded in 1936 to serve the needs of the Pedagogical Academy.

The pupils of the 6th grade of Elementary school had been taught the subject of Experimental Physics in this lab since 1955 and, since 1991, all pupils at Arsakeia Psychiko Elementary schools have been taught Physics in this very lab.

The lab comprises two specially-designed rooms where pupils of Elementary school work in groups sitting at their desks in order to carry out experiments in class.

Hence, pupils are given the chance to work in such conditions that allow them to explore and learn through the process of discovery and in the spirit of creative cooperation.

The lab is fully-equipped with various instruments and appliances such as: generators, amperemeters, voltameters, transformers, electrolysis appliances, coils, light wave meter, refraction meter, sound generator, palmographer, microscopes, thermometers of various types, internal combustion engine, water pumps, comparison scales and weights. All these instruments relate to scientific subjects taught to pupils of 5th and 6th Elementary school grades and these subjects are: Electricity, Magnetism, Optics, Acoustics, Biology, Anthropology, Heat and Mechanics.

Moreover, the lab disposes of a greenhouse which, apart from its aesthetic value, allows the pupils to be in close contact with the physical world.

Finally, there is a display of instruments and devices of historical value inside the labs, including old cameras of various types, projectors and film cameras, which render the comparison between older and modern technologies even more obvious.

Image1.      JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS-CHEMISTRY-BIOLOGY LABORATORY

An experiment enables us to understand and transmit knowledge related to physical sciences and also show progress in that field. Indeed, we would argue that, in contemporary educational practice, an experiment should constitute the initiative in our efforts to arouse students’ interest in physical sciences. Other than that, it is also a pedagogical means which helps students develop their ability to observe and interpret various phenomena.

The need to adopt experimental teaching of physical sciences was detected early enough at Arsakeia schools, where Physics, Chemistry and Biology labs had started being in use since the very beginning of the previous century. 3 rooms on the second floor of the main building at Arsakeia Psychiko schools had been designed in such a way that they disposed of the most suitable infrastructure and all necessary equipment (i.e., instruments and appliances) to help carry out experiments in class. In fact, some of the instruments used at the time are now objects of significant historical value. Over the last decades, the labs have been renovated to adjust to the demands of modern educational practices provided by at Arsakeia schools.

ImageRecently, three rooms of the 1st Arsakeio Senior High school have been renovated; these rooms are used as Physics, Chemistry and Biology labs at Arsakeia Psychiko schools where the students of the first grades of Junior and Senior High school practise. All students are given the opportunity to gain deeper insight in scientific phenomena and rules within fully-equipped rooms.

The constant use of the labs of Physical sciences on the part of Junior and Senior High school students of all classes as well as their renewal in terms of instruments and other appliances is a priority issue at Arsakeia schools, which continue to be a significant educational establishment to this day.

 2.      JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY LABORATORY

Three labs of the 2nd Senior High school at Arsakeio Psychiko are house to the Physics and Chemistry lab where students of the 2nd Junior, 2nd Senior and Classical Senior High schools carry out experiments.

ImageThese rooms are fully-equipped with instruments and other appliances. One of them also disposes of multimedia equipment (a P/C, a projector, a screen and Internet connection) available for use in class during the lesson, following the modern methods of teaching practice.

The series of experiments are carried out by teachers of Junior and Senior high school with the aid of a lab assistant. These experiments are fixed in the beginning of the school year in cooperation with the Head of the Physics Department, the Head of the School lab and the teachers involved.

The laboratory equipment is renewed every year and covers a wide range of experimental practices other than those enforced by the Ministry of Education.

Thus, teachers are enabled to carry out projects in the labs which contribute to the best possible understanding of the taught materialImage issued by the analytical programme of the Ministry of Education. These projects are carried out either in the form of ‘ demonstrational experiments’ or in the form of ‘frontal experiments’, i.e., experiments carried out by the students themselves in groups of two to four people.