In order to have an unforgettable science experience, you have to have a hands-on experience. After all of my science experiences, both learning and teaching, the ones that I remember most are the ones that were hands-on. I believe that science should be very hands-on because it provides an experience that cannot really be done with any other subject.
Hands-on lessons are also known as inquiry-based learning. When teaching an inquiry-based lesson, teachers have to think out of the box and create experiments for students to perform to come to a conclusion for their learning. Science is made up of experiments; therefore, in order to teach it properly teachers have to integrate experiments of some kind within the lessons. A study was performed
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In order to experiment, teachers have to provide students with manipulatives or materials to use to complete the experiment. A survey was completed by forty-eight elementary schools on the topic of using smart boards and hands-on experiences or materials in the science classroom. The survey was conducted in order to collect information needed to improve the science program. The research questions in the survey included, “Do elementary teachers feel prepared to teach science? Do elementary teachers feel prepared to use SMART Boards technologies to teach science? Do elementary teachers feel prepared to teach science using manipulatives? Do elementary teachers use manipulatives and/or SMART Boards in teaching science?” (Martin, 2014, pp.91). These questions really allow for teacher to speak their mind and get their opinions across about their ability to use these approaches to teach science instruction. Also, the questions can be used to gather information on which teachers are for using manipulatives and smart boards and which teachers are against it. Teachers should be given the choice of how they choose to teach their lesson; however, if teacher want to teach in these ways but are uncomfortable, they should be able to receive training or assistance if needed to understand or get started with the process. Teachers are encouraged to use their resources and the lack of knowledge …show more content…
However, I firmly believe in inquiry-based methods. “While some research in this area revealed success stories of students’ learning when they are engaged in student-directed, open-ended scientific inquiry activities, other are more skeptical about how these activities impact students’ learning in and of science” (Wong, 2012, pp. 197). Like mentioned early, there is always a skeptic in every situation; therefore, teachers cannot let skeptics keep them from following their philosophy for teaching in each and every subject. It is crucial for teacher to teach in the way that works for them and most importantly works for their students and their learning; no matter what other parties
Quarter 1 Narrative: General: Physics class focussed on understanding and practicing scientific method and developing basic mathematics and other scientific skills required to learn Physics. A number of hands on activities and designed labs helped the learners to understand the subject content as well as to practice scientific method. Students were taught and encouraged to write a formal lab report and science papers. Students’ progress were assessed with help of formative and summative assessments and lab reports. A project work named ‘The innovation with balloon’ helped them to understand application of Physics in real life. .
Technology has come a long way in the last forty years. We have so many options today to use in classrooms that we should be producing technology savoy students. One of the biggest technology tools to enter the classrooms is the use of Smartboards. At first any teacher can become overwhelmed. I mean a board that is called smart? What can this device do that will make learning to read more fun and engaging and yet be a valid form of learning? Well, with time and refresher after refresher classes, it is now clear.
...ter Method' precisely one is not properly conducting science. According to Edmund, "If you do not teach any formula (set out method) when using problem-based learning programs (as opposed to using the Scientific Method), you fail to a great extent getting transfer of learning." Essentially what this means is that theres is no way to teach science properly except under the guidelines of the Scientific Method.
As opposed to 19th century teaching practices, where the teacher was seen as the source of all knowledge and had the responsibility of passing that knowledge on to children, teachers using the inquiry approach have the role of facilitating an environment where children can construct their own learning (Reynolds, 2012). In the inquiry based approach, the teacher goes on the learning journey alongside the children and the focus is not on what is being taught, but rather on the learning process (Murdoch, 1998). Additionally, learning is relevant and meaningful in children’s lives and connected to their current funds of knowledge and other areas of the curriculum (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2015; Bateman, 2014). One benefit of the inquiry process, is that it promotes a variety of skills which are vital for children in the 21st century. Because of the rapid progress in technology, teachers have no way of knowing the skills students will need in their future jobs. Therefore, the main things students need to learn are how to learn and how to think. The skills developed during the inquiry process include information processing skills, critical and creative thinking skills, communication skills and reflective and metacognitive skills (Reynolds, 2012). Mastering these skills will equip students with the abilities they will need in the future to
In this artifact, Inquiry-Based Learning this teaching method on student investigation and hand on learning. While using this method, the teacher serves as the facilitator who know, understands, and uses a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning. Instead of presenting the information with facts, or answering the question. She asks questions, pose problems, or scenario in which children think, explore, and investigate to come to an answer or solution. The teacher guides and support children always, but she doesn’t do the work for them. The purpose of this approach is to increase intellectual engagement
devices in almost every classroom. Technology enhances learning, boosts confidence, and eliminates geographical limitations. Technology enriches learning by being able to come in different forms and do different things. "For lessons traditionally done with a paper and pencil, we now were able to do them in color, with animation, and with more depth and complexity"(McCollum). Teachers are now able to help stu...
Inquiry-based learning is geared with a student-centered approach, where teachers use the scaffolding technique to help students move toward stronger understanding of the subject area. Being directed towards a Science class, Forrest discovered that the literacy skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking are all components of the inquiry process and are essential to learning in a Science classroom. Methods of using inquiry-based learning in a Science classroom includes; active reading where students are given a purpose for reading, scaffolding or teacher provided guidance, and collaboration in small groups to provide feedback on a specific source. The goal of active reading is to help students focus their inquiries on specific topics in an effort to increase learning. Another discovery that was made is that Middle-school students enjoy gaining new knowledge, especially when it is presented in a social way where they can provide their own ideas and listen to the ideas of their classmates which further promote their literary proficiencies. The article concludes that using inquiry-based literacy strategies will motivate and engage students in all subject
Inquiry-based learning is supported when educators are co-learners with children as they develop, supporting and extending on a child’s own attempts at understanding. This knowledge can be broadened by ensuring that children have the time, space and resources to become deeply involved in their investigations and there are opportunities for reflections during and after activities (Touhill, 2012a). Furthermore, it is imperative that the physical environment contains spaces as well as materials that encourage a child’s curiosity and investigation (Touhill, 2012a). By providing interesting and engaging materials educators are able to provide stimulus for children’s investigation and
Although some teachers still use regular boards,most teachers use smart boards to teach. These boards are like ordinary boards except these are controlled by a remote control pen. By just clicking on the board questions can be written in a variety of ways and in any color you want. The final piece of tech that is mainly used in the classroom is a variety of websites that provide tests,quizzes,and assignments that students can access with a certain username and password. Research has found that all types of technology are changing the way teachers teach forever (usnews.com).
On my journey to become a science teacher, the development of my personal philosophy of teaching has provided me with the foundation that structures my teaching vision and values. I am committed to create a learning environment that models democratic values and embraces diversity to educate students to become responsible, productive and lifelong learners in a multicultural society. Furthermore, I am dedicated to develop my students’ language, literacy and numeracy using a wide range of teaching strategies and resources across all phases of learning, but, particularly, in the context of the science and technology. My teaching principles include my life time
I have ensured that I meet my students’ science needs by assuring that the material needed to be cover in the class was covered. Furthermost, the students are able to learn from exploring, which is different from teaching the students how to and giving them the information needed. The students were still able to learn the material needed to be covered by discovering the content.
Indeed, involving the students in the learning process can only enhance learning and self-development. Infusing the love of learning within the students may encourage them to become lifelong learners, always striving to become better knowledgeable citizens, long after compulsory schooling. I find teaching to be an ongoing, continuous yet challenging process that is rewarding in return. I see no end for improvement. I want to be a teacher who even after years of teaching, still strives to make each lesson better than the previous one, with my mind set on engaging my students to love Physics and Science as much as I do.
Everyone says this generation is the future, the people and the citizens of tomorrow’s society. Except if this generation is not educated to grow and progress with the planet and learn how to help it, there will be no “next generation”; the earth simply will not be able to sustain our life forms. This is why science education is important to the future of our lives and our planet. Where if not for the innovation of science and its cures, we would still be living in the Dark Ages where the simple flu would have killed a family, and smallpox and other diseases caused epidemics and panics. Every day science classes are educating kids on the basics and the higher levels of science. Out of all these kids a few are bound to become doctors and research biologist that will help cure cancer, the planet of harmful pollutions, and more. One might say that science was the one that started the pollution in the first place, but as you can see, it has started to help fix the damage it has caused. Also, science education (although thought impractical by some) surrounds our everyday life and is need to understand some of nature’s simplest things. This is why science education is so important in the 21st century.
In Science, teachers serve as the facilitator of learning, guiding them through the inquiry process. Teachers must ask open-ended questions, allow time for the students to answer, avoid telling students what to do, avoid discouraging students’ ideas or behaviors, encourage to find solutions on their own, encourage collaboration, maintain high standards and order, develop inquiry-based assessments to monitor students’ progress, and know that inquiry may be challenging for some students so be prepared to provide more guidance. There are three types of Science inquiry: structured, guided, and open. Structured is the most teacher-centered form of inquiry. This type of inquiry is mainly seen in laboratory exercises where the teacher needs to provide structure, however the students are the ones who conduct the experiment and find conclusions. Guided inquiry is where the students are given tools to develop a process and find the results. As an example, the teacher would instruct the students to build a rocket, but not tell them how to design it. This leaves creativity and uniqueness for the students to be able to apply their knowledge and skills. Open inquiry is when students determine the problem, i...
In my physics lab, I perform many experiments intended to compliment the lecture material. Doing these experiments not only improves my general understanding of the lab material and how physics equations apply to the real world, but also teaches me many things about experimental procedure and data collection. Overall, it is a very enriching experience.