The Validation Lab

The Validation Lab is the default for most lab activities and is arguably the least engaging. 

Many Validation Labs can be improved by applying one of the other Filters to it

What does this filter include?

Ask students to run an experiment and compare measurements to a theoretical prediction. When there is a discrepancy this could be attributed to an error or imprecision in the experiment, or the prediction not being appropriate or accurate to model the physical system. Validation labs are very common in education, and students should learn how to perform them to illustrate the extent to which the theory can be applied to the real world. Validation is also a critical component of experimental modelling.   They can get repetitive if overused however!

Here are some examples of a Validation Lab:

Notes and limitations of applying this filter

In truth this can be the most 'boring' filter, and is often the starting point for a lab that can be improved upon.

There is certainly merit in validating theories using experimental data, but students often find this dry and uninspiring.

Validations labs can often be transformed into a much more interesting one by employing one of the other Filters in this OER.