Expected, Inspected, & Respected.
"We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience."
-John Dewey |
"We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience."
-John Dewey |
On January 15, at the start of my course in early years science education, I posted an entry on my blog titled Bill Nye vs. The Trebuchet. In it, I concluded that although I love Bill Nye the Science Guy videos, my science lessons would always make experiential learning a priority. Since writing it, my stance has not changed. If I were to lead a unit on the subject of simple machines, I would have my students play and experiment, to discover for themselves through trial and error how simple machines make our lives easier, rather than have them take my (or Bill's) word for it. Through active learning, I want my students to have their curiosity stoked, and through their curiosity, be motivated to gain the skills that are at the heart of the science curriculum. Curiosity and interest are what turn predicting, measuring, recording, classifying, inferring, and communicating scientific ideas from boring tasks into engaging, mystery solving skills to be mastered. There are no science facts in the curriculum that are more important than the desire to learn about the universe. Carl Sagan once said : As a teacher, the most important thing for me, is to encourage my students' wonder and enthusiasm for learning. The best way to preserve their enthusiasm and the most effective way to achieve true learning can best be summed up by Ben Franklin:
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David Wiebe
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