Cultivation of Scientific
Attitude among the Learners
-Means and Techniques
-
-
Introduction
Thurber
and Collete have rightly stated that, “Science can justify its place in the
curriculum only when it produces important changes in young people- changes in
their ways of thinking, in their habits of action and in the values they assign,
to what they have and what they do.” Hence it is true that the cultivation of
scientific attitude among the learners is an important aspect of Science
Education and we shall discuss here the means and techniques for it.
What is Attitude?
Attitude
is a psychological constituent inferred from the observable responses to
specific stimuli. It is a personal disposition which impels an individual to
react to an object, or situation in favourable or unfavourable ways.
What is Scientific Attitude?
Scientific
attitudes are the most important outcomes of Science Teaching. Scientific
attitudes are predispositions (tendency, inclination, mental set or habit of
mind) to think and act in a certain way. It can be just a ‘mind set’ in a
particular direction or it can be a way of life. Scientific attitudes have been
described as what is left after
everything else has been forgotten; e.g., what is left from the
chemistry, physics and biology courses.
Characteristics of Scientific Attitude:
- Establishing relationship between
cause and effect
- Critical observation
(looks for consistency and challenges the validity of statements)
- Respect
for evidence (looks for evidence through an
empirical approach)
- Honesty
(reports all evidence and acknowledges the work of others)
- Objectivity
(considers pros and cons and all of the evidence available—unbiased)
- Willingness
to change (alters hypotheses, assumptions, technologies
and methods)
- Open
mindedness (considers several possible
alternatives when investigating)
- Loyalty to truth irrespective of
one’s own likes and dislikes.
- Accepting the authentic ideas even
with caution.
- Questioning attitude (asks many questions: how, what, who, where, when and why?)
WAYS AND MEANS TO CULTIVATE SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE
1.
Wide
reading: Learners should be encouraged to read extra books
and periodicals in Science. Certain articles on scientific topic can be
gathered and kept by students.
2.
Study on
superstitions: Students may be encouraged to
investigate some common superstitions in the course of learning particular
lessons, and come to their own conclusion by actual survey and study.
3.
Practicals:
Proper
use of laboratory can offer many opportunities for developing scientific
attitudes. Practical work should be done with intellectual honesty. The teacher
should suggest projects for experimentation and problem solving.
4.
Co-curricular
activities: Club activities (Science club, eco club,
forest club etc), Science related hobbies, Science fairs, Study tour and field
trips, Museum techniques, maintain garden, live corners etc help to inculcate
scientific attitudes.
5.
The
classroom atmosphere: Child –centred methods, freedom of
expression, internal setting, respecting students’ views, encouraging
intelligent questions etc can create an atmosphere conducive to the development
of Scientific attitudes.
6.
Personal
influence of the teacher: The teacher should encourage the
spirit of creative criticism, enquiry and investigation among students. The
personal example of the teacher, his/her beliefs, and attitudes will help in
the development of scientific attitudes.
TECHNIQUES TO INCULCATE SCIENTIFIC
ATTITUDE
1. Improvisation: Improvisation
is the designing and production of ordinary laboratory apparatus and other
instructional material from simple articles found in our surroundings. The
learners are to be introduced to
motivate their scientific attitudes through the life examples of great
scientists like Priestly, Edison, Dalton, Madam Curie and many others who in
spite of lack of expensive apparatus and elaborate laboratories, carried out
their experiments in the humblest of conditions with homemade apparatus.
2.
Modern Technology:
Through
the various applications of the technology (video clippings, blog, web
site…etc) scientific attitudes can be cultivated among the learners.
3.
Organizing
Conferences: Science conferences can be organized to
discuss human scientific and technological problems and new innovations. This
would enable the learners to develop the tendency to study a fact or concept in
broader perspectives.
4.
Seminar:
It
is an instructional technique which involves paper reading on a theme followed
by the group discussion to clarify the complex aspects of the theme. This would
enable the learners to develop the sense of tolerance and respect the ideas of
others.
5.
Symposium:
This
technique forum serves as an excellent device for informing an audience,
crystallizing opinion and preparing the listeners to arrive at decision, value,
judgment or understanding. Its main purpose is to provide understanding to the
students/listeners on theme to develop certain values and feelings.
6.
Workshop:
It
is an assembled group of 10 or 25 persons who share a common interest or topic
and meet together to improve their individual skill of a subject through
intensive study, research, practice and discussion. It would enable the
participants to develop the attitude of open mindedness.
7.
Educational
Panel Discussion: Panel discussion would enable the
learners to develop the manners of putting questions and answering questions.
Conclusion
In
modern times, the chief aim of education is to enable a citizen to develop a
scientific attitude of mind to think objectively and base one’s conclusions on
tested data. With the development of such a scientific attitude an individual
is able to have the understanding and the individual integrity to sift truth
from falsehood, facts from propaganda and to reject the dangerous appeal of
fanaticism and prejudice. In short, the more the scientific attitude of an
individual is developed, the more would be the integrity of that person. Of all
the different means and techniques which influence cultivation of scientific
attitude, I consider that the values,
the quality, the character and the attitude of the Science teachers
are undoubtedly the significant factors.
Let
us remember that we represent T- Truthfulness
E- Enthusiasm
A- Aptitude
C- Confidence/ Clear thinking
H- Honesty/ Hard work
E- Empathy
R- Rational Thinking
-----------------------------
Important Questions
1.How would you develop scientific attitude
among your students?
(4
marks Question from April 2010)
2.
Define scientific attitude? (1mark
Question from April 2011)
3.
What are the important attributes that a person with scientific attitude will
have?
(4
marks Question from April 2013)
4.
‘Science is the pursuit of truth’. The function of science that is referred to
here is
a)
Cultural function b)
Disciplinary function
c)
Moral Function d) Practical function
(1mark
Question from April 2014)
5.Which
of the following is not a characteristic of a person possessing scientific
attitude
A)
Critical observation B)
Believe in cause effect relationship
C)
Casual and conditioned D)
Avoid exaggeration
(Mid
Sem. Feb.2014)
Space for Discussion:
Bibliography:
1.
A. Faziluddin & K. Sivarajan, Science Education- Methodology of Teaching
and Pedagogic Analysis, Calicut University Publications, 2007.
2.
M. Vanaja, Methods of Teaching Physical Science, Neelkamal Publications,
Hyderabad, 2008.
3.
Y.K. Sharma, Teaching of Physical Science- Methods & Techniques, Kanishka
Publishers, New Delhi, 2003.
5.
Previous Question
Papers (2010-2014)
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