What is science?

What is science

1 . Why Teach Science and Technology

It appears to be obvious why we should teach literacy and numeracy These are important skills that every child needs ! Therefore the emphasis should be on them . Well , at least this is how it appears . In many schools special literacy and numeracy programs are set up which run every day whereas Science and Technology (or Science as it is still referred to in many schools ) is given little class time . Even when Science and Technology does 'go to air , the way that it

is taught leaves a lot to be desired . Are teachers interested in creating experiences that challenge their students or are they interested in just teaching enough to say that they have completed the outcomes for each strand

Asoko (1994 ) believes that the first encounter that children have with the subject may have a long-term impact on their interest in , and attitudes towards , science and therefore there is the potential to provide a useful basis of knowledge , understanding and skills if approached in the right manner . The quality of science and technology which children receive rests ultimately with the teacher

It is easy to become enthralled in Science and Technology activities that have been carried out during EMS312 - Science and Technology 2 such as electricity , force and motion , sailing /sinking /soaring , but what is the purpose of teaching them to our students ? In chapter 2 , Fleer and Jane (1999 ) ask the question of how might science encourage children to become lateral thinkers , problem solvers and see how science can be applied to developing our country

Young children actively explore their environment and surrounding from an early stage , and demonstrate curiosity about it . Their attitudes to science begin to form at a very early age (Fleer Jane , 1999 . The reason that we teach Science and Technology is that it makes students aware of how things work and allow them to predict , explore , create analyse and synthesise about things in their environment

Teaching science is not just about having enough basic scientific skills to carry out experiments with students but is a far more complex process indeed . This was demonstrated in where it outlines a students teacher and the difficulties experienced in teaching a science unit with only a fairly basic content knowledge

While the debate for including Science and Technology in the curriculum will be ongoing , Fleer and Hardy (2001 ) examined the HYPERLINK "http /golum .riv .csu .edu .au rwells02 /ytration .html " \o "rationale for teaching S T to young children " \t "right " rationale which apply to the education of young children

The information presented over the past six months in tutorials lectures and readings , has really made me think about why science and technology should be taught in schools . My views of science and technology have most definitely been challenged and I believe that teaching young students science and technology is essential because it is an area that allows them to view their surroundings through a different lens . Instead...