About Lab Master
About Lab Master
Ever since my internship, I have given awards to outstanding laboratory students in chemistry. In 1987 I created an award for exemplary lab performance: Lab Master.
How is a student chosen for this award? They come to class prepared and motivated, having read the lab the day before; they come to lab and have all materials ready immediately; they clean up their area quickly; they help their peers with questions on procedure or technique; they follow all safety rules at all times. They try their best.
After each lab is completed, one student per class is chosen to be Lab Master. The current winners' names are posted in my classroom as well on the Lab Master page. Each winner receives a personalized paper Erlenmeyer flask certificate as well as a prize of his or her own choosing from our prize box. The prizes include fancy pencils, key chains, memo pads, etc.
A list of previous winners is posted online. Students can see who has won from other classes from the start of the school year.
Friends and lab partners compete for the title of Lab Master. According to my philosophy, once you are titled Lab Master, you are a Lab Master for life. I have had students make T-shirts proclaiming they are Lab Masters. Ideally, everyone should be striving for this degree of excellence.