Experiential Science as a Means for Building Science Literacy
In an era defined by the rapid spread of information - and misinformation - the role of science education transcends the traditional boundaries of simply imparting knowledge. Instead, science education is crucial in instilling the scientific principles of critical investigation and the value of evidence based decision making. By focusing on teaching students investigative skills and integrating hands-on, experiential learning, educators can equip students with the tools needed to critically consume information and make informed decisions. This post will dissect the importance of these strategies in fostering a scientifically literate society.
The power of investigation
Investigative methods are at the core of scientific inquiry. Inquiry based teaching allows students to not just accept information at face value but rather to question information, analyze it, and derive evidence based conclusions. This approach is valuable in a lab setting but also outside the walls of your classroom where students are regularly engaging with misinformation that can easily be mistaken for truth. When you empower students with investigative skills, they can more easily assess the credibility of a source and differentiate between opinion and fact when scrolling social media.
Experiential science as a means to investigate
Experiential science takes learning out of the textbook and into the real world. With hands-on experiences and authentic experiments and problem solving, students are not only more engaged but they are also demonstrating the application of the investigative processes. This is especially true when students are given an opportunity to ask their own questions and form their own hypotheses. Many science classrooms can get stuck in a cycle of pre-determined labs where students follow a recipe and see a specific outcome. While those have value for demonstrating a phenomenon, they don’t give students an opportunity to use their investigative skills. Instead, consider showing students a phenomenon or giving them a piece of information first and then allow them to come up with questions and form their own hypotheses and processes to test that hypothesis.
Combating distrust in science
More often than not, distrust in science comes from a lack of understanding and fear of the unknown. By demystifying science, we can break down those walls and bridge the gap between scientific communities and the public. Already we’ve seen the growth of a new type of science professional, the science communicator, who does the hard work of explaining difficult scientific concepts to a general audience. Through teaching investigative methods and giving students opportunities to test those skills in an inquiry based and authentic experiment or project, lead by the students themselves, we give students the ability to understand the methods used by scientists in the field to reach their conclusions. In doing so, students leave your classroom without the lack of understanding and fear of the unknown that creates so much division between scientists and communities.
Your role, as an educator
As the linchpin in this endeavor, your role as educator is to move beyond teaching facts but instead promote a community of inquiry, discovery, and investigation in your classroom. By fostering an environment of curiosity and critical thinking through student lead experiential learning, you are inspiring a life-long appreciation and understanding of science and the scientific process. The fight against misinformation and distrust in science starts in your classrooms and your labs. Teaching investigative methods and practicing them with experiential learning will cultivate a generation that critically consumes information, forms evidence based conclusions, and considers the scientific process a process of trust. This approach will not only enhance scientific literacy but also ensure that society is equipped to make informed decisions based on evidence rather than fear or misinformation. As we look towards the future, let's invest in science education that empowers, enlightens, and inspires.
Resources
Check out these resources for some ideas on how to promote an inquiry based learning environment that encourages investigation:
Here’s a lab report template I created and used in my classroom that encouraged students to form their own questions about a piece of information or a demonstrated phenomenon and then design an experiment to help answer that question.
Question Formation Technique from The Right Question Institute
At Trophic Education, we design educational programming alongside scientists, non profits, and others that gives you opportunities to share experiential and authentic science activities with your students. If you’re interested in working with Trophic Education or would like more information, please visit www.trophiced.org
