The word science conjures up different ideas for different people. Others may genuinely be interested on such topics such as cell division or genetics, while others end up wondering why they have to study something that is so difficult to understand. Others may love the idea of learning something new while others have to be guided into the learning process kicking and screaming. Young people have different opinions on science as a subject and this perhaps, affects the way they learn.
Some students pick up easily on scientific concepts unlike the others. This is why you, as a teacher, should be aware that a science subject such as biology is not one that should be taught exclusively through the traditional way (meaning, textbooks and memorization). As a teacher, you should take note of the various learning styles of your students and try to make the lessons fun and exciting for them.
Science, as men of science have always stressed, can be seen anywhere and at any time. There is always a reason why things around us are the way they are. This is especially true for biology, the “science of life.” From the inner workings of the human body to the blooming of a dainty flower, science can be easily understood. With that said, you can use the things around you to teach your students. You can use the world to teach about the world. Yes, text books may be useful, but this is not the be-all and end-all of teaching biology. Do not limit your classes to just school books and illustrations on the blackboard. There are other ways to make students learn more, it’s just a matter of thinking outside the box. Here are a few ideas to get you started on making biology a subject that your students can truly enjoy.
Let your teaching materials evolve. Do away with the usual black and white illustrations found in textbooks. They may have all the information that both you and the class need, but they are not that aesthetically pleasing to the eye. When teaching, make the concepts more tangible and real to the students by providing them with interactive visual aids. For instance, if you’re going to teach about plants, bring a real live plant to the class and show its different parts. Allow your class to have a close look at the plant either by passing it around or letting your students look at it one by one. These interactive visual aids will peak the students’ senses as well as give them a first-hand experience of the concepts that you are trying to teach them. As they say, seeing is believing. Giving your students a hands-on experience with science will not only make them learn better but actually spark an interest in the subject.
Take ‘em out. Field trips need not include a bus, chaperones or permission slips. Nor does it need to be a full day of activities or visits to various museums or parks. A field trip can happen right inside the school grounds and within class hours. For example, a simple stroll around the school or a garden to show various flora and fauna can already be a learning experience for your biology students. It is in these kinds of field trips that they are able to see life in its natural form. This gives them a glimpse of science as something that is included in our daily lives, instead of it being just a subject. Also, the classroom can be a bit constricting when the students are cooped up for too long. Field trips provides the students a new setting which can greatly help them in learning.
Television Teleportation. Television networks like National Geographic, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet showcase different topics of interest for biology students in an informal way. Instead of the usual lectures that occur inside the classroom, these TV shows are able to transport the students to various places in a snap and allow the students to witness phenomena that a textbook can only dream of describing. A flower in bloom can never be fully described in detail in textbooks. Such things are better seen than read. These TV shows also show different applications of science in our daily lives, giving it a new perspective.
Turn to an unlikely ally. The Internet. Though oftentimes a distraction to students, you can also harness the power of the World Wide Web in teaching biological concepts. There are various websites that can be used as teaching aids. Many science websites feature interactive illustrations and animations for explaining a concept, as well as quizzes, trivia, games and videos. Some websites also suggest fun activities that can be used for teaching. When making a simple research about concepts, make use of Google and other search engines. These will help you find answers in a snap. Finally, believe it or not, YouTube can also be used as a tool for teaching science. Though it is not known to be a fountain of educational videos, YouTube does in fact have videos about science are uploaded into the website; it is just a matter of finding them.
Save the frogs. Though no student can get away from the dissection activity in school (RIP, millions of frogs all over the world), that doesn’t mean that there can’t be other more enjoyable and less squeamish activities that don’t require being in a laboratory or be near a dissection table. Try assigning your students to do a play about the cell or about the different systems in the body. The students can role play the different functions of each part. Not only will they learn the lesson, but they’ll also enjoy learning and working with others. Another idea would be a holding a quiz bee with the class. This activity can serve many functions, it can compel students to learn their lessons for the game, it can assess the progress of the students and it can serve as a review for the students before a big test.
Use simple language. Photosynthesis. Xylem. Phloem. Biogenetics. Superior vena cava. Capillaries. Deoxyribonucleic acid. Say what?
You’ve been there before, so you know how hard it was to memorize such terms. Now that you’re the one on the other side of the classroom, try not to bombard your students with words they can barely spell. Introduce the terms one at a time instead of cramming all the words into a sentence. If it helps the students understand the lesson when you use slang words, then by all means use them. Simple and understandable language definitely goes a long way when you’re tackling a complicated subject.
There are many other ways to make learning biology an enjoyable experience. What is important is to always keep your students in mind during your lessons. Always try to make learning—for any subject—a fun activity. Teaching doesn’t always mean lectures in the classroom—sometimes teaching means thinking out of the box and putting the student’s needs first.
Source : http://factoidz.com
No comments:
Post a Comment