Gc presentation
Transcript of Gc presentation
Is there a science toteaching science?BY CATHLEEN GARCIA, FALL
2002
WHAT IS THE STUDY OF SCIENCE?
*what we know-content
and how we come to know it-
process
*A way of observing and
thinking about the world, and
communicating those thoughts to
others
HOW HAS SCIENCE INSTRUCTION CHANGED?
Early history…exercised students’ minds through rote memorization of information
1960’s…research by Piaget, Bruner and others looked closely at learning styles and environments and suggested changes
Currently…NSTA and other professional science organizations promote activity-driven, inquiry-based, thematic science instruction
What methods of science teaching are the most prevalent today?
*CONTENT-BASED programs
(textbook based)
*INQUIRY-BASED programs (activity-based or hands-on)
The questions of how children learn, what is important to learn and how learning should take place in a
classroom are the fundamental differences…
HOW ARE CONTENT-BASED PROGRAMS CHARACTERIZED?
Textbooks, lectures and written assignments
Less integration and a wider range of content on a more superficial level
Teaches information through interpretation of the
printed word
More vocabulary and factual recall learning
Directed hands-on activities using the lower level
process skills
Shallow treatment of topics-few opportunities to
apply knowledge
HOW ARE INQUIRY-BASED PROGRAMS CHARACTERIZED?
De-emphasized reading activities
Vocabulary and rote facts receive minimal focus
Dynamic-depict science as an ongoing process of exploration and discovery
Deep understandings reached
by integrating knowledge into new situations
Focus is on the higher level process skills of predicting, inferring,
hypothesizing, experimenting and controlling
variables
What does current research indicate are the “Best Methods” for nurturing intellectual development in children?
*Involvement in learning(the key to intellectual
development)*Physical
manipulationof objects
(enhances early stages of cognitive
development)
*Direct experiences
(extensions of natural
behaviors with natural
phenomena)*Experiential learning (provides a base for the
developmentof abstract reasoning/critical
thinking skills)
WHY WE SHOULD CHANGE OUR SCIENCE INSTRUCTION FOCUS…
*Hands-on science is intrinsically fun and more interesting
*Hands-on science increases student creativity, positive attitudes towards science, logic
development, communication skills and reading readiness
*Hands-on science benefits students with learning difficulties due to ESL, learning barriers
or physical/behavioral deficiencies
TOP 5 REASONS FOR NOT CHANGING SCIENCE
INSTRUCTION METHODS…
*Text teaching is easier to prepare, assess and
administer
*Text teaching is usually more organized, disciplined
and predictable
*Content-based programs are
easier to put into place in large
independent school districts
*History has cultivated a dependency on textbook
use in the science classroom
And the #1 reason for not changing…
Teachers’ uncertainty, discomfort and lack of resources as well as sometimes-limited
backgrounds in science content and science teachingIn other words…