- encourage students to develop a critical sense of wonder and curiosity about technological and scientific undertakings
- empower students to use science and technology to achieve new knowledge and problem solving skills, to improve their lives and those of others.
- ready students to analyze science related issues in our world
- implement a foundational base in science for students, creating opportunities of higher levels of study
- Equip students of differing natural abilities and passion to develop knowledge of the wide variety of careers related to science
What is good science teaching?
Science is not just a core subject that is taught in school. Science is the world around us; we interact with it, we manipulate it, it affects our daily activities and is ever-changing resulting in teaching us new things. My idea of science is to take the curiosity of what students are interested or are passionate about and further use it to teach knowledge, understanding and encourage the students to want to learn more about their ever-changing environment.
A science teacher, or any kind of teacher for that matter, is there to entertain the students. A good science teacher will incorporate differential learning strategies to meet the different learning styles of the students within their class; hands-on activities, activities outside of the classroom, bringing the outside world into the class and giving students the choice on how they would like to learn. If you are passionate about what you are teaching, you have the opportunity to bring the essential questions and content of the material to life. The students will then respond to your enthusiasm and enjoy learning.
Teaching science is no easy walk in the park. Science encompasses a vast amount of material and must be met accordingly; teaching by using multiple approaches, materials, and strategies. In my future class, I will incorporate teaching strategies that will meet the auditory learner, visual and hands on learners within the class. Any content that can be made realistic or related to practical use, the student will have a better understanding of what is being taught. For example, when instructing a chemistry class about acids and bases, use household items for which the students are to test with litmus paper. This lab portion of the lesson involves both visual and hands on learning and relates to each students home life. Apart from teaching the required content, as a teacher, you also need to let your students further explore what interests them. Providing opportunities for students within unit & lesson plans to conduct further research on something of interest, or even present to the class a topic of interest, will engage and further push your students to meet and rise above your expectations.
An important aspect of teaching science, is to encourage questioning. Students will ask questions that I will not necessarily know the answer to, but that is the whole idea of teaching. It is to further explore the material that is being taught, and find connections to real life, and to think critically. Science is amazing and I want to engage the students to dive right into the material to understand why they are learning and to further spark wonder and curiosity about what they are learning.
Lastly, apart from teaching the required material, you a also required to create a positive and safe learning environment for your students. Creating connections with your students, and even letting them know that you are a soft place for them to fall, will make for a fun and engaging learning environment. You as a teacher will learn about your students just as much as they will learn from you.