we have been living in a world of technology. Even in the field of agriculture we are introducing new techniques. Is it corrrect to stick on the decade old method of teaching science.
Let us look in to the school based method of teaching science in primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary level. Upto class X the central board of secondary education has made the science as integrated science which has all physics, chemistry, botony and zoology. This system was followed scores of years back when the science and technology was not developed as we see now. Actually speaking the field of science has seen a boom in recent days.
Since the science is advancing,the branching of physics, chemistry, biology see multiple branches even in the areas microphysics, microchemistry, microbiology. In this situation is it wise to have the subject as an integrated subject of all these subjects in the middle school level as well as in secondary school.
In some of the private schools there are separate subject faculties who teach these subjects as individual subjects to classes right from class VI. But in other schools including all kendriya vidyalas one single teacher handles all the three subjects irrespective of their specialisation inthe field.
AS the subject is advancing with age special subject experts are supposed to teach the said subjects as individual subjects to the students as it is wise to workout. A subject expert in physics may not be able to concentrate into the minute details of biology vice versa. Then how can we expect the students to expand their knowledge in the age when it is supposed to be done. A student of middle school as well as secondary school will have number of questions regarding a given topic of either of these of subjects. Will a physics teacher can clarrify the doubts of students in biology , chemistry teacher with physics, …though their ancillary subjects in their UG may be these subjects.
In my point of view major focus should be there in clearing the doubts in the right angle. A student can read the text by himself but explanatory part he cannot. A teachers duty is to concentrate in explaining the concepts in an apt form whichcan be done only by him ie. by a stuff bound teacher.
Hence the system of teaching methods of science should be changed to expect more intellectuals and researchers in this field.
To change the system of teaching methods of science the examination in this subject shouldnot be conducted under a common umbrella instead the examination should be conducted separately as physics, chemistry, botony and zoology. Also there should be practical physics, practical chemistry, practical botony and practical zoology. This method of evaluation willnot only focus on teaching methodology also it will focus on learning methods.
Some may think that this method of teaching and evaluation will increase the burden of the children in school level but it is not true. If we have a minute look at this matter we will come to know that we train the children for their future needs but not to tax them. The quantity of matter that they are going to learn is not going to increase but the quality of teaching and learning process will definetly improve. For example let us look into the present syllabus of science in CBSE curriculam. The total theory part will fetch them only 60marks out of 100 and the rest will be from the practicals that they are doing. For example, from four different chapters of physics the student will be tested only for 20 marks. It increases the probability of low scoring of marks in the secondary level. Instead if each subject has separate examination along with separate practicals the real potential of the concerned subject teacher will comeout along with the talent of the student in the particular subject. Also the student gets an oppurtunity of scoring of maximum possible marks in that subject.
The student should be trained in all the areas which sounds as a platform for them in class XI and XII
If some argues that not all the students are going to take up science in their class XI curriculam , there is a reply for them too. If all the students of class X are not going to takeup science stream in class XI in the same way not all the students of class X are going to take up other stream.
Therefore the fundamentals of the science based subjects should be taught in the secondary school level and in the middle school level strongly and deeply so as to give a healthy base for students in science based learning.
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