Staff Reporter
PARENTS have been urged to encourage and allow their children to enjoy the joy of discovery in science rather than learning science for knowledge sake.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sideline of the third Qatar Symposium on Science Teaching and Learning, professor of physics at WCMC-Q Roger Hinrichs said the joy of self-discovering and applying will stay longer with students than just memorisation of the facts.
“Too often across the world, students memorise their lessons because they are having exams and they probably forget all or some materials later on or they don't know how to really apply the knowledge further.”
But with problem solving skills in their kitty, they can take up brand new things and be able to deal with those issues, because they have the tools not just by memorisation, said the professor.
He said that the problem is an international difficulty, which has prompted many science teachers to continuously work hard to encourage more active learning, inquiry-based methods of problem solving approaches.
“From some significant studies, it has been recorded that students now have better retention abilities, better interest in the subject, better attendance and understanding of the content. Even though, the approach is the reason they are interested, they learn by doing or teaching it, thus retaining better.”
Speaking about the theme of the year's symposium, he said emphasis is placed on problem solving skills.
“The skills are very important, especially in the science classroom, because students must know some of the science skills they can better apply on their jobs later in life.”
He mentioned that the college would organise four major symposiums next year, adding that WCMC-Q and QU are looking at working together with the teachers at the local schools in the country.
“We all have the same students at one level or another and so we want to work together over the years to make every process work really better basically.”
“Many studies have shown that a lot of boys and girls are turned off from science and engineering related subjects in their primary grades and so it is important to be able to reach into and work with primary teachers as well,” stated Hinrichs.
He said the move will be one of the next thrusts with the Ministry of Education and the groups that represent education in Qatar.
“Our expectations of the sympoisum are better contact with teachers in schools, universities, colleges and hopefully, we will see that learning is more than teaching, this is a conference of learning, not for
teaching,” he added. |
