It has been observed that one of the major problems of teachers is the attitude of students or classroom behavior in relation to the span of retention that they have during their Science class.  This can be a challenge, even for the very best teachers.  Most probably, there is too much theory and too little hands- on for the students to engage in.  Perhaps, it has something to do with the teaching style that a science teacher used.  Or it may be other teacher-related factors, like personality, and lack of mastery. And even worse, their teachers in Science are not really passionate about this subject, maybe because it is not their major subject.  Nevertheless, recent observations and studies revealed that more experiments and group works should be included in a Science classroom, and the researchers claim that this will also be the type of science  concept teaching  in the future.

                     It was suggested that science concept teaching should be packed with a wide variety of science instruments that enable the students to experiment to their heart’s content  It was observed and noted  by various researchers, that in tomorrow’s classrooms, school children will be free to experiment and be creative when presented with scientific tasks.  This differs from today’s science teaching, where people often follow a study guide in which both the process and the outcome pointed out for them.

                     In this case, teachers must realize that many of them filled up the rooms with a focus on what they know can benefit motivation and engagement in science subjects.  Some of the science teaching that can rekindle the science interest of the students according to HaansOrsted Anderson, a senior lecturer at Aarhus University, Department of Education are, namely:

Hands on Research- in natural science it is important to sense what you are working with.  Students must be taught for instance to cut the stomach of a dead rat to learn how it really looks inside, or if the students can’t see that chemicals light up when you mix them together, much of the magic of science  disappears.

Open Experiments- Experiments are always good things to do in Science.  But if the children only follow a study guide when doing the experiment not much is gained.  It’s boring for the children to simply follow a recipe where the teacher uses tells them what the outcome will be instead, the children should have access to a wide variety of scientific equipment that enables them to solve an open assignment.  An experiment would be: can you think of a new way of lighting up a room?  Here, the teacher doesn’t know the answer in advance to the students are free to come. up with an answer based on the information they have given.  They could for instance, generate light by sending gas through a tube so that it lights up.          Openness to Communication and Debate– Today’s children are used to discussing.  Children must be encouraged to communicate and cooperate to solve problems via the internet and social media.  In this way, the pupils are engaging in an innovative working method which gives them a sense of ownership..

 

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By: Mrs. Kristina A. Yambao | Teacher I | Cabcaben Elementary School