PRACTICAL SCIENCE: A PERSPECTIVE FROM

THE USA

PRACTICAL SCIENCE: A PERSPECTIVE FROM

THE USA

ALAN MCCORMACKALAN MCCORMACKNSTA PRESIDENTNSTA PRESIDENT

ALAN MCCORMACKALAN MCCORMACKNSTA PRESIDENTNSTA PRESIDENT

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT AIMSFOR TEACHING SCIENCE

• Understand investigative processes

• Teach Skills

• Motivate pupils

• Link practical work to theory

• Show how science works

• Provide science contexts

• Encourage Creativity

• Encourage group work

• Provide pupil enjoyment

• Teach concepts

• Encourage Enquiry

PRACTICAL SCIENCE =“HANDS-ON”

SCIENCEor

an “Inquiry Approach”

PRACTICAL SCIENCE =“HANDS-ON”

SCIENCEor

an “Inquiry Approach”

SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCHINDICATES

THAT ALL OF THE SUGGESTED

AIMS CAN BE MET THROUGH USE OF

PRACTICAL SCIENCE

IMAGINE AND INVENT:

CREATE A GREAT FUTURE!

IMAGINE AND INVENT:

CREATE A GREAT FUTURE!

NSTA Presidential Theme2010-11

NSTA Presidential Theme2010-11

FLEA MARKETINVENTIONWORKSHOP

FLEA MARKETINVENTIONWORKSHOP

Sears-Roebuck Catalogue 1888

BREAD PRESERVEREXPOSED

CHEESE PRESERVER

PIE PRESERVER

Sears-Roebuck Catalogue 1888

ANTI-SNORING DEVICE

UNIDENTIFIED OLD DEVICES (UOD’s) ACTIVITY

UNIDENTIFIED OLD DEVICES (UOD’s) ACTIVITY

WHAT WERE WHAT WERE THESE THESE THING-A-MA-THING-A-MA-JIGS MEANT JIGS MEANT TO DO?TO DO?

WHAT WERE WHAT WERE THESE THESE THING-A-MA-THING-A-MA-JIGS MEANT JIGS MEANT TO DO?TO DO?

Randomly assign old-time inventions to groups

CHALLENGES 1. INFER - “What is the most likely

original intended function of the invention?”

2. BRAINSTORM - “What could the device be used for today?” (Try to think of several possibilities).

SHARE

• SHARE IN A GROUP - “WHAT IS A PRACTICAL SCIENCE ACTIVITY YOU HAVE FOUND USEFUL (AND FUN) IN YOUR TEACHING EXPERIENCE?”