PEDAGOGY OF SCIENCE TEACHING

Preface

The word ‘teaching’ has an underlying tone of what a teacher does in a teacher centered class. Teachers need to recognise that every child learns in her/his own unique way. Therefore, every teacher has to find her/his own way of engaging the learners in the learning process. Science as a discipline has its unique standpoint and its own values system. Science is not limited to observation, experimentation and analysis only; rather it is a way of life. Science is an expanding body of knowledge through the process of inquiry. A Science teacher should understand all its dimensions.

Science education is the field, concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The learners may be children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education includes: work in science content, science process (the scientific method). some social science, and some teaching pedagogy. The standards for science education provide expectations for the development of understanding for students through the entire course of their K-12 education (particular system covers education from kindergarten till the 12th grade) and beyond to higher level that is technical and research education.

Science is dynamic, expanding body of knowledge covering ever-new domains of experience. It is an organized system of knowledge which is based on inquiry born out of natural curiosity, logical reasoning and experimentation. The role of the science teacher has evolved over recent years from ‘transmitter of knowledge to the ‘facilitator of knowledge’. The teacher is also expected to be a participant in the construction of knowledge and develop in students an understanding of the nature of science.

Teaching-learning of science and mathematics should be closely intertwined with the content and pedagogy of science and mathematics respectively. Involving learners in the process of inquiry and investigation helps the teachers to gain a better insight into the nature of science and mathematics and purpose of science and mathematics education.

This book “Pedagogy of Science Teaching” is an attempt to assist you in your pursuit of enhancement of effectiveness, excellence, diversity and creativity in the area of teaching learning of physical science. The author has tried to provide you with some basic ideas and strategies to help you in the development of concepts of physical science among the pupil teachers of science pedagogy. This book is meant not only to be read, but to be engaged with throughout teaching leaning process. This can be done by your involvement in thinking critically about what it says, performing the suggested activities,