Teaching and Learning of Science

Thoughtful
Learning

• teachers need to emphasise the mastery

of skills together with
• the acquisition of knowledge
• and the inculcation of noble values and
scientific attitudes.

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Thoughtful Learning
• active participation of students
• base on thinking skills and thinking strategies
• involves students’ critical and creative thinking
• non routine
• students realise explicitly the skills being used
• high order questions and problems being asked
• students being involved in problem solving
activities, make decision or conceptualisation
• inculcation of thinking skills and thinking strategies
are planned

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Approaches in Teaching and Learning
Science
• Helps student acquire knowledge and master skills
• Occur through various learning approaches
• Learning activities geared towards activating students’ critical
and creative thinking skills
• Students be made aware of it
• Use higher order questions and problems

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Constructivism
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Science, Technology and Society
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Mastery learning
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Contextual learning
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Inquiry Discovery
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h Approaches in Teaching and Lear
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Constructivism

 suggests that students learn, when they

construct their own understanding

 Use of discovery learning in direct

experiential situation

 Learners construct their own concepts

out of their experiences

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Attributes of Constructivism
• Taking into account students’ prior knowledge.

A process
See object skill Using senses

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Attributes of Constructivism
• Learning occurring as a result of students’ own
effort.
Lets try dropping it

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Attributes of Constructivism
• Learning occurring when students restructure their
existing ideas by relating new ideas to old ones.

Observation is using May I add, it is when you use all

the sense your senses to get information

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Attributes of Constructivism
• Providing opportunities to cooperate, sharing ideas
and experiences, and reflecting on their learning.

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Attributes of Constructivism
• Inquiry and discovery

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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Science, Technology and Society
• Meaningful learning occurs when students
relate their learning with their daily experiences

• Learning themes and learning objectives that

carry elements of STS are incorporated into the
curriculum.

• suggests that science learning takes place

through investigation and discussion based on
science and technology issues in society.

• knowledge in science and technology is to be

learned with the application of the principles of
science and technology and their impact on
society

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Scientific Attitudes and Noble Values
in STS
• Having interest and curiosity towards
the environment.
• Realising science is a means to
understand nature
• Appreciating practising clean and
healthy living
• Appreciating the balance of nature
• Appreciating the contribution of
science and technology

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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Problems of Science, Technology and Society

• Problem related to improving

human condition
• Problems related to improving
Earth’s environment
• Protecting wild life habitat
• Setting limits on application of
technology

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Mastery Learning
• Ensure all students are able to acquire
and master the learning objectives
• Based on principle that student learn
when given adequate opportunities

• Allowed to learn at their own pace

•Incorporation of remedial and enrichment

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Contextual Learning

• Learning with daily experiences

• Appreciate the relevance of
science learning to their life
• Students learn through
investigations

Realising science is a means to understand nature

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Inquiry and Discovery
• Emphasise learning through experiences
• Inquiry: find information, question and
investigate
• Discovery: main characteristics of inquiry
• Occurs when main concepts and principle of
science are investigated and discovered by
students

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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Why teach by inquiry?
1. Maintain children’s curiosity
2. Involve children in learning
activities that require a high
degree of cognitive skill
3. Develop children’s positive
attitudes toward science
4. Provide concrete experiences

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Discovery Learning
• Discovery activities are
usually carried out in
groups
• The require high-order
thinking skills
• The learner are developing
their own meaning

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Effective use of the discovery method
• When well devised and managed, the discovery method
offers active learning and achievable challenge which
engages interest
• Motivates all but most apathetic students developing the
learners’ understanding

Ineffectively managed
• result can be lack of learning, confused and
frustrated students,
• waste of time and good will

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 How should the method be used?
Important consideration

Learners must have any essential background knowledge and

techniques they need in order to make a success of the discovery
activity
The learners must understand exactly what is expected of them
The great majority, if not all, of the learners must be able to make
a success of the activity
The student a work must be carefully monitored
Choose the topic where students are very unlikely to know the
answer already
Leave plenty of time
Summaries what students should have learned at the end

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Strengths and weaknesses of the
discovery method
Advantage Disadvantage
• It is active, involving, motivating • Leading students to discover “
and fun the wrong thing”
• It developed understanding of • Leaving the learners confused
the subject matter in terms of • slow method
earlier learning and experience
• Involves the student in high-
order thinking skills;

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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 Interaction
Teacher-centred method
often only involve the learner in low order skill
such as attending and comprehending.

Student-centre method
students are encouraged to see learning as
something they do themselves, rather then
something that experts don to them.
Allow students to enjoy study

Approaches in Teaching and Lear

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Teacher controlled
rote memorizing
lecture or demonstration
questioning
practical
individual work
discussion
group work
Guided discovery
Discovery

Student controlled
Approaches in Teaching and Lear
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