A second teacher in the room decided to use the obvious mistake of the student as a teachable moment. She asked the group of students what had happened when the oil was poured onto the hot tray. They began to discuss smoke, burning of the oil, and other observations. The entire group began to discuss how various liquids could in fact boil. They also concluded that the oil in this case did not boil, but instead was burned.
Mistakes occur all the time in the classroom, especially a lab period.
I strongly believe that the unexpected outcomes of some classes have a far greater impact on the student than the routine lab procedures they are forced to complete. The fact that the student's interest is aroused is evidence that they want to lear. Sometimes, what a student wants to learn and what a teacher wants to teach can be very different. It isthe teacher's job to try and accomodate teh student. That was a great way to handle the situation by the teachers in the classroom.