• school laboratory activities have special potential as media for learning that can promote important science learning outcomes for students;
• teachers need knowledge, skills, and resources that enable them to teach effectively in practical learning environments. They need to be able to enable students to interact intellectually as well as physically, involving hands-on investigation and minds-on reflection;
• students’ perceptions and behaviors in the science laboratory are greatly influenced by teachers’ expectations and assessment practices and by the orientation of the associated laboratory guide, worksheets, and electronic media; and
• teachers need ways to find out what their students are thinking and learning in the science laboratory and classroom.