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…