Magical Formula Or Wishful Thinking Towards
Healthy Science Education?
By Marianne de Nazareth
13 July, 2010
Countercurrents.org
Considering that the President of Italy – Giorgio Napolitano made it clear in his speech during the opening of ESOF2010, that Europe is slipping in its premier position of Science research in the world, the session on Science Education drew a huge audience response. Louise Baker from the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Germany encouraging science interest among the youth is the biggest challenge being faced in Europe.
Michela Mayer from the National Institute for the Evaluation of Education System, Italy felt that teachers are the driving force towards increasing interest. “ How relevant are labs and hands on practices? It’s not just the use of labs that is important but how they are used to generate interest. Also in Italy we teach our children that mistakes are unacceptable. If you don’t know the right answer – don’t answer! That really is no encouragement.”
To add in interesting dimension, Joachim Dengg from the Leibniz- Institute of Marine Sciences ,Germany said that a sense of adventure draws the attention f school children. “ There should be a cross over from academia to the school level where researchers can show students that their work can be fun.” He illustrated his work where he took students out with ocean scientists and the project they worked on was – how much churning happened in the ocean when the ferry turned! “ This attracts future students and fosters natural science in general,” he said. Do the students finally go on to University and get a degree in science after that? Well, he said there was no way of mapping that, but having students come up and speak and record their experience and broadcast them on U Tube has been a positive experience of reaching out.
“ Let me talk about my own experience,” said Elisabeth Engum from the Bjorgvin videregaende Skole, Norway. Elisabeth stated that inspite of Norway being the richest country in Europe science was very low on the priorities of students. “ 13- 15 is the ideal age to generate interest,” she said,” as older students have already made up their minds on the stream they want to take. Bringing students outside the classroom, is an ideal way to grab their interest and encourage authentic learning.” Elizabeth’s infectious enthusiasm I am sure does more to encourage her students toward science than anything else could do.
Considering the little hall for the session was filled to bursting point with teachers and students all sharing their individual experiences, obviously this is a universal issue which finds consonance across the world in the field of science today.
Twitter and blogs seem to be the universal social networking tool being used across the board to collaborate between teachers, students and scientists today. And what was interesting to note is that students are considering science today since the banking and business sectors are in a crisis!
(Fellow of the Robert Bosch Stiftung covering ESOF 2010 in Torino, Italy)
