1. Working In Science & Engineering Labs
Roles & Responsibilities
Fall 2015

2. Many Roles…All Necessary for Success

3. Everyone Gets A Chance! Lab teams will be made up of 3 or 4 members.
You and your teammates will support one another by functioning in different roles during the lab.
When you get a role you will stay in this position for several weeks.
Everyone will get a chance to play all roles over the course of the year.
Once you have a role, the next time you can’t be in that role again.

4. Role Cards Will Guide You
For Illustrative Purposes Only
Cards will be at your stations to help you.
You will also take notes in your Science Journal

5. Role Members 4 Major Roles: Lead Scientist* Recorder - Reporter
Lead Engineer
Material Manager
* This role will be divided up for 3 member teams

6. Lab Roles – What’s it All About?
Please go to a new page in your Science Journal in order to take notes for each role. Title this page: “Lab Roles”
Please take notes in your Science Journal for each role!

7. R(ead), S(ummarize) and Q (uestion)
You will read each role with your partner then
Summarize what you learned in your SJ
Once you are done with all four roles, think about anything you are confused about. Write a question in your science journal.

8. Lead Scientist Lead Scientist (LS) is responsible for the group.
Only person to asks questions of me for their team
Reads directions out loud to the group
Ensures group understands directions
Directs the Engineer on what to do
Keeps group on-task to ensure the investigation runs smoothly
Keeps track of time
Basically, the Lead Scientist is in charge!
If I come around and I have a question, I’m going to ask the Lead Scientist what’s going on.

9. Materials Manager
Material Manager (MM) is responsible for obtaining all necessary materials and /or equipment for the lab.
The only person allowed out of seat to pick up needed materials
Organizes materials and/or equipment in the work space
Facilitates use of materials during the investigation
Assists Lead Engineer with conducting lab procedures
Returns all materials at the end of the lab to designated area

10. Lead Engineer
Lead Engineer (LE) is responsible for conducting the experiment / lab
Conducts the experiment or builds the model
– Completes hands on portion of the lab
- If needs help get it from the MM
Provides Recorder with observations from experiment 
Helps Material Manager with clean-up
Safety Manager for the Group - Monitors lab time for safety issues – HUGE Responsibility
Reports any accidents to the teacher

11. Recorder - Report
Recorder/Reporter (RR) is in charge of recording all data and disseminating it to teammates.
Documents teams data/observations
Must make sure that team members receive all documented information
Creates model sketches
Records data in tables and/or graphs – neatly!
Reports data to the class
Whoever records findings will also speak for the group in the class.
A simple but very important role. You can’t have any other role during the lab because you must take precise notes and get all the data and observations recorded! You are looked upon to take excellent notes.

12. Three Person Teams
Teams of 3 will divide up the Lead Scientist (LS) role as follows:
Only person to asks questions of me for their team (LE)
Reads directions out loud to the group (RR)
Ensures group understands directions (RR)
Directs the Engineer on what to do (LE)
Keeps group on-task to ensure the investigation runs smoothly (LE)
Keeps track of time (LE / MM)

13. Safety
While the Lead Engineer is the official safety officer of the group; Everyone is responsible for the safety You have all signed off on the Safety Rules We don’t want any experiments ending up like this:

14. What questions do you have?
Reflect on the presentation you just read.
Come up with at least one question you have about lab roles.
If you can’t come up with a question …then create a question for others to answer.
STOP HERE and wait for further instructions.

15. Now You Decide Now you understand the roles …
With your team, decide who is the best people in your team for the job.
You and your team will decide who is going to have what role.
Everyone must be clear on what role they are playing and what their responsibilities are.
The RR will submit in writing to me which role each member of your team will play.

16. Jigsaw activity
What challenges do you think you will face in your role? How do you plan on handling them? Meet with other individuals with the same role as you and brainstorm challenges and possible solutions