Teaching of General Science Methods and Techniques of Teaching Sc

Teaching of General Science

Introduction:

Science has become an essential and integral part of our life. Without the knowledge of basic principles , concepts , theories and laws of science one cannot understand and explain a number of daily-life processes and many phenomena which one observes and experience in one’s life . Hence a basic knowledge about the fundamentals of science has become a necessity of everyone. Furthermore, science is not only a knowledge rather it is a attitude towards nature I a way of thinking as well as a way of life .

Keeping this in view, science has been given the status of a compulsory subject in any education system in the form of “general science”. So it is being taught even to the students of arts, literature and social sciences. It is due to this large scale demand of science teaching that we need a large number of science teachers. These science teachers must be equipped with an in-depth knowledge with full understanding and well-developed skills to communicate (teach) the concepts, principles, theories and laws of science at elementary and secondary level. They must have competence and command over the content of science from class I-X as well as over the latest available methods, techniques and approaches towards science teaching. They must keep in mind the objectives of science teaching and its need and importance in the advancement and progress of the society and civilization. These courses on the “teaching of general science” have been designed to meet all these requirements. Course -1 deals with the content of general science from classes I-X and course-II discusses on the methods & techniques of teaching science. Course-III deals with the practical work & developing teaching materials in science.

Course –I: Contents of General Science up to Secondary and O’ Levels

Course Code: BED-516.

Objectives:-

The general objectives of this course are to enable the student teachers to:

• Understand and apply the concepts of science in daily life .

• Develop scientific thinking and scientific attitude among their students

• Plan, organize and teach a lesson on a given topic of science in the light of theory and research in science education

• Understand recent trends and issues in methods and techniques of teaching science at elementary and secondary level

• Comprehend and teach theories , Laws and principles of science effectively upto secondary level

Course Outline

Unit-1. Introduction to Science:

• Nature, scope and importance of science education

Part-I

Unit-2. History of Science

• What is science?

• Islam and science

• Scientific method

• Branches of science

• Evolution of modern sciences

Unit:3. Science and Society

• Facilities: agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, engineering etc.

Unit:4. Cell as Unit of life

• Start of life

• Chemical composition

• Chromosomes and genes

Unit-5. Microscopic Organisms

• Bacteria

• Viruses

• Growth of human body

• Role of nutrition

• Components of nutrition

• Role of hormones in body

Unit-6. Essential Elements of Life

Needs, importance and role of following elements in plants & animals:

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Calcium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sulpher, Chlorine, Sodium, Magnesium, Iron etc.

Unit-7. Structure of Atom and Radioactivity

• Atom

• Fission and fusion

• Pakistani nuclear program

• Peaceful use of atomic energy

Unit-8. Modern Technology

Engine, Radio, Computer, Laser, Tape Recorder, Radar, Telephone, Television, Astronomy, Pakistan’s Space Program

Unit-9. Energy

• Types of energy

• Energy sources

• Measurement of energy and its units

• Use of energy in Pakistan

• Conservation of energy

Unit-10. Environmental and Natural Resources

• Minerals

• Agricultural recourses

• Marine Resources

• Pollution and its types

• Population explosion

• Ecological balance

• Forests

• Water logging and salinity

• Urbanization

Unit-11. Science and Technology

• Science and technology in Pakistan

• Futurism

Part II

Review of Content of Class 1 – 5

Review of Content of Class 6—8

Review of Content of Class 9^th and 10 ^th

Recommended Books

Feden , P.D. and Vogal , R.M.(2003). Methods of teaching: Applying cognitive science to promote students learning . Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Hoong , T. L. Leng , H. P. (2003) . Lower Secondary Science 2 Singapore :SNP Panpac

Hoong , T. L. Leng,H. P. (2003). Lower Secondary Science I Singapore : SNP Panpac

Qureshi, N. A. et al (2002). Science 3. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board .

Qureshi, A. M. et al (2003). General Science. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. ( 2003 a). Science 2. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. ( 2003 b). Science 7. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F.et al (2002 a). Science 6. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. et al (2002 b). Science 1. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. (2004). Science 3. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Course-II: Methods and Techniques of Teaching Science

Course Code:-BED-517.

Objectives:

The general objectives of this course are to enable the student teachers to:

• Understand and apply the scientific method in daily life

• Understand and apply various methods and techniques for teaching concepts of science

• Develop scientific thinking and scientific attitude among their students

• Select an appropriate method or technique for teaching a given topic of science by developing and arranging necessary materials and conditions

• Plan organize and teach a lesson on a given topic of science in the light of theories and research in science education

• Understand recent trends and issues in methods and techniques of teaching science at elementary and secondary levels

Outline

Unit-1. Introduction

• Science: Its nature, scope and importance

• Science education

• Scientific process / method : Its nature , steps ,stages and characteristics

• Scientific attitude , nature and importance

• Science education in Islamic perspective

Unit-2. Use of A.V-aids in teaching general science

Unit-3. Planning lessons

Unit-4. Developing required instruction & helping for teaching science material

Unit-5. Imparting instruction

Unit-6. Different methods used in the teaching of general science

A detailed study of the nature, scope procedures, merits, demerits and application of the following methods and techniques:

• Lecture method

• Expository method

• Laboratorial or practical method

• Logical puzzles

• Demonstration

• Discussion method

• Problem solving method

• Project method

• Modeling

• Tutorial method

• Discovery and inquiry method

• Using computer technology (Simulations, PDA’S, Artificial Intelligence System, Programmed Instructions, Integrated Learning Systems)

• Modular instruction

• Brains forming

• Activity based

Unit-7. New Trends in Science Teaching

• CAI and ICT

• Science technology and society

• Science technology and literacy

• New trends in teaching of Chemistry

• New Trends in teaching of Physics

• New trends in teaching of Biology

• New trends in teaching of Maths

• New trends in teaching of General Science at Elementary and Secondary level

Unit-8. Evaluation of student’s achievement in science subjects

Recommended Books

Alsop, S. and Hicks, K. (2003). Teaching science: A hand book for primary & secondary school teachers. New Delhi: Kogan Page

Amos, S. and Boohan, R. (Eds.). (2002) Teaching science in secondary school –A reader. London: Routledge.

Ashman, K.M. and Baringer, P.S. (Eds.).(2001). After the science wars. London: Rouledge.

Back,I . and Earl .M.(Eds.). (2003). Key issues in secondary education. (2^nd ed.) London: Continuum.

Ediger, M. and Rao , D.B. (2003). Teaching science in elementary schools. New Delhi: Discovery Publishing House.

Hand, B . and Prain, V. (Eds.).(1995).Teaching and learning in science: The constructivist class room. Sydney: Harcourt brace

Mohapatra , J.K . and Mathapatan, M.(1999). New dimensions of science curriculum: An operational approach. New Delhi: Commonwealth.

Rifat, O. (compiler). (n.d.)Foundation s of science education. Islamabad: AIOU Press.

Science Education Department, AIOU. (1998). Allied material on assessment in science education. Islamabad: AIOU.

Siddiqui, S.A. (Compiler). (2001). Trends & issues in education. Islamabad: AIOU press.

Watts , M. (Ed.). (1991). Science in the natural curriculum. London: Cassell.