Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Monona science teacher Peter Schnell helps eighth grade students with a LabLearner project. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
MONONA — Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School in Monona, this school year, became the first LabLearner school in the state of Wisconsin.
What is LabLearner?
LabLearner is a 100 percent research-based, comprehensive, hands-on science education system.
It aims to promote interaction and experimentation in a laboratory setting to encourage diverse learning and thinking strategies, fostering a community atmosphere of learning.
The program has been implemented with the school’s kindergarten through eighth grade students.
They have their science classes in the school’s new science lab.
It was all made possible by the work of the School Advisory Committee and the Home and School Association, along with contributions from donors.
Teaching with LabLearner
Peter Schnell is IHM’s new science teacher.
“[The students] hit every one of the major science bodies every year,” Schnell said. These include earth science, life science, and chemistry.
He added it lets them get used to different types of science classes every year.
He said LabLearner also allows students to get full access to materials and topics they may see in a high school or college lab course.
The lab work is done cooperatively in groups that learn to work together on various lab activities and tests.