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There are many jobs that are essential on a day to day basis but very few can claim to be precursors to changing the world; education can have a profound impact on the values, interests, and decisions of the next generation. Teachers are more than just conduits of information, they also transmit curiosity, innovativeness, and wonderment.
Most students that sit in a science lab during their pre-college years will not become scientists, therefore, as science teachers, we have the utmost responsibility to give every student the skills and content they need to be scientifically literate global citizens. Our lessons should challenge their preconceptions, broaden their perspectives, make connections between the theory and their personal experiences, and instill a lifelong love of learning. This is no small task.
Science education lends itself well to experiential learning; well-rounded science curricula should include lessons that deepen knowledge, put the content into context with activities, experiments, and/or projects, and include time for reflection and synthesis. It also lends itself well to interdisciplinary and intergenerational collaboration which enhance a student's experience while also being more reflective of how knowledge is used outside of a school setting. By moving the focus away from memorization and towards transferable skills, students can better see the connections between the sciences and get a better grasp of the process of science.
The science curricula should include sustainability education and address social, economic, and environmental issues in the science classroom. An important part of educating for a sustainable future is for students to get to know their local environment through field trips and projects. Thomas Huxley wrote in 1854: “To a person uninstructed in natural history, his country or seaside stroll is a walk through a gallery filled with wonderful works of art, nine-tenths of which have their faces turned to the wall.” It is essential to create opportunities for students to develop a genuine connection to nature. If you don’t understand the value of your own environment there is no reason for you to care about the degradation of faraway places.
Good teachers routinely reflect on their teaching practices and their curriculum. Reflection is an ongoing, dynamic process that continually seeks, and leads to improved student learning. Teachers should also engage in professional development; science has its own language and is continuously evolving, it is essential for science teachers to stay abreast of new developments in science and adjust their lessons accordingly. These practices model what it is to be a life-long learner.
