Science learning, particularly chemistry, required experiment most of the time. In addition to exercising the motor skill, experiment also improves attitude and decrease misconception that often occurred in chemistry learning. However, many teachers and laboratory assistants still experienced difficulties in managing laboratory and conducting experiment class, on the matters of concept and experiment’s equipment arrangement.

On March 11, 2017, Pudak Scientific had once again held the “Workshop of Chemistry Capita Selecta for Senior High School” that was attended by participants from various regions of West Java, East Java, and Jambi. This workshop held at Pudak Training Center, Gedebage, Bandung, West Java, is expected to help improving teachers’ competence, particularly for chemistry learning process.  

Dr. Sri Mulyani, M.Si, a lecturer in the chemistry department of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, began the workshop with her presentation about chemistry learning. She emphasized about the importance of experiment in chemistry learning. Moreover, she also conveyed about learning with multiple representations, characteristics of chemistry reaction, polarity and its relation to molecular shape based on VSEPR theory, and the misconception often occurred in colligative solution’s characteristics.

Besides having workshop activities in class, participants were also visiting Pudak Scientific’s factory, which is in the same complex as Pudak Training Center building. With a Pudak Scientific’s staff, participants were shown the production process of chemistry equipment. During this visit, participants were interested in the glassware making process.  After factory visit, participants returned to Pudak Training Center and continued the workshop by doing several chemistry experiments that included:

• making of titration graphic by using the  PSBK (computer based science experiment) equipment
• electrical conductivity of a solution
• acid-base
• molecule model by molymod
• conservation of mass
• calorimeter usage to determine the enthalpy of neutralization reaction

This workshop that ended at 5.30 p.m. western Indonesian time will hopefully improve participants’ knowledge, who are mostly teachers, thus they will conduct chemistry experiments and manage chemistry laboratory in a proper and better way in their school. Through workshops that had been regularly held since 2009, Pudak Scientific wishes to continuously making contribution in improving Indonesian education quality.