Developing a Researching mind in students..

NEED FOR DEVELOPING A RESEARCHING MIND IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

Last year, during one of my visits to a local  primary school in United States, the Head of the school was explaining to me about the initiatives taken by them to give a boost to the STEM project.

As we walked around I saw a student of the third grade running around with  a paper windmill.. As he stopped on seeing both of us, I asked him “ Is this your games period? You seem to be enjoying this windmill.”

He looked at me and said “sorry, this is my lab period...  I am experimenting..”

“What is the experiment?”

“I am trying to convert wind energy into mechanical energy...” He went on to explain to me the renewable and non-renewable sources of energy and the concern about energy crisis.

It was indeed a learning experience to me...-. how we need to handle the subject of science.

Science teaching in schools needs to undergo a sea-change. The pedagogy for science has to be focused on analytical thinking and researching. These help the students to open up their mind, do some out-of box thinking and seek answers for some relevant issues. It has to further enterprise, innovation and creativity...

Storing of information printed in books of science will never produce real time scientists.. Research appears to be an occupation than a faculty of the human mind .. Serious thinking is necessary in our school systems.. We need to move beyond text books in science classes.. It must start from the primary level..

“Why” and “how” should be the language of a science classroom.