1) The teacher in the case uses a brainstorming approach with his students. He asks them questions but requires the students to back up their statements with complex reasoning for their ideas. His approach to how students learn allows the student to understand that science is not as concrete as one may think it actually is. The scientific method is very structured with detailed step by step instructions that must be followed, but the instructor lets the class observe science as a little less concrete and more free to interpretation.
2) The students develop competency of science through their own vision of what science really is. The teacher allows for brainstorming of ideas and thoughts which gives each student the tools to really rationalize what "Science is Messy" means. I believe the teachers goal and the end of the lecture is to make each student see that science does not necessary mirror the scientic method. Each person has the chance to discover science in their own fashion.
3) If the teacher encourages brainstorming and free thought amongst his students but steers them all in the same directions with leading questions and ideas then the students will have the opportunity to think creatively and individually; because of this free range of thought, students are reaching the same general thoughts but with their own personal twists.
Theresa,
ReplyDeleteWhat specifically do you mean by "steers them all in the same directions with leading questions"?
GNA
What I mean by "steering them all in the same directions with leading questions" simply means, allowing the students to think and formulate ideas on their own. Instead of giving the students same one answer, he asks them question that encourages them to think critically and come up with their own explanation. This does not mean the teacher will allow the students to think whatever they wanted even if it is way off base, but instead he asks them questions that he is certain will eventually lead them all the same idea. The key is, not all students will take the same path to get to the same idea. All of the students will use their own learning preference to formulate ideas in their minds but they will all have the same understanding of the content being taught.
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