INNOVATIVE STRATEGEIS IN TEACHING SCIENCE

Source: https://www.edsys.in/innovative-science-teaching-methods/
Student engagement and understanding of materials is given more emphasis in today’s
education over spoon feeding the facts. Therefore, using black-boards or the typical
lecture methods are not adequate to teach science and other related subjects.
Many scholars and researchers have proposed advanced ideas and they claim
that virtual teaching scenarios or simulations can help to build a
better understanding of subjects amongst students. More than just conveying facts or
findings in science, students will love to explore the world of science. These
innovative teaching methods in science can substitute the typical teaching techniques
to achieve the goal.

1. Hands on Learning:
This is the best teaching method invented so far that involves the active participation
of students to experience scientific concepts than to just have an audience view.
Schools are promoting the use of low cost apparatus in classrooms to helps students to
have hands on learning experience. It can be a string telephone to teach about sound
and communication, matchstick mecanno to teach 3D structures, notched pencil to
teach rotation motion or anything similar.

2. Story Telling
Students love to hear stories and therefore, storytelling is one of the best ways to get
their attention in class. Teacher can explain the facts of b ology or the laws of physics
in the form of stories. This is a mental organizer as human brains can remember
stories than just plain facts. Some teachers present the whole concept as a story while
some others use a story to open and end the session.

3. Role Play
This innovative method is becoming an integral part of science education as students
can intellectually and physically involve through activities while learning a new
concept. Activities can be organized in classroom sessions where a group of students
can take the role of atoms or molecules to study a chemical reaction or they can
represent a scientist group to demonstrate the particular scientist’s laws.

4. Sports Based Learning

This is an interesting approach to learn problem-solving in physics or a stepwise
method to study complex chemical reactions.
A game of football or volleyball helps them to learn about the percentage, average or
probability which can find its use in physics problems. Sports are mostly played in
teams which also promote the importance of teamwork that helps them to synchronize
better in group projects.

5. Visual clues
Using visual clues easily supplements auditory information and students can easily
connect better with ideas. The multi-sensory experiences improve their understanding
and memorization. This includes drawings, diagrams, and pictures to assist theory and
setting up examples to show its application side. The sequence of lab procedures can
be better taught using pictures with words approach.

6. Instructional Conversations
Building instructional conversations is a key method to teach science vocabulary. Let
them talk in between the lectures about the experience they had with an application
related to the topic of discussion. This promotes their dialogue construction in science
as they communicate using scientific and technical terms. Make this a classroom
strategy to help students to easily learn science vocabulary.

7. Science Text Cards

This is an innovative teaching method to convey the science facts in an easy and
organized way. In this activity, statements related to science concepts are written on
index cards. Students can work individually, pairs or in groups to sort the cards based
on the given format. The formats include true/false,agree/disagree, matching pairs,
classification, sequencing and more.

8. Word Games
This is a creative strategy to help elementary students to experience the language of
science. Hangman, Pictionary, Dingbats, Bingo, Scrabble, Odd One Out, Charades,
Trivial Pursuit etc. are the common games. Playing these games using scientific terms
helps the students to work closely with different hard to understand words and use
them fluently in their subject.

9. Graphic Organizers
This teaching approach is helpful for students to interact with science in a more
organized and structured way. Teachers can use different types of templates to
represent the data according to the topic that is being handled. A typical format for
graphic organizer contains a central point from which different branches are formed
and there may be sub-branches in certain cases. Arrows are used to point the direction
or sequence of a process.

10. Word Parts

This teaching strategy is followed by teachers to educate the basics of science to
elementary students. While introducing new scientific terms, they can reinforce the
structure of words.
Students are asked to identify and understand prefix, suffix, and base word, and to
relate their meanings. For example, metamorphosis — meta (large), morph (change),
osis (process); photosynthesis — photo (light), synth (make), isis (process).

11. Social media

The different social media platforms can be used wisely to teach science to make the
science classrooms more interesting and engaging. For instance, students can be asked
to follow scientists in Twitter and share his/her new thoughts and findings in class or
to use Feedly for improving the content of their research projects. Students can also
use Vine to document and to share science videos, Pinterest account for sharing
images for research projects or writing prompts or WordPress class account for peer-
to-peer learning.

12. Virtual science labs

There are many virtual science labs available online for free and therefore, this
approach almost gives hands on experience of learning the subject without much
expense. Detailed diagrams, illustrations or close up pictures allow students to
virtually get inside a plant or animal part without actually doing it. Dissections in
biology can be studied thoughtfully with a virtual hands-on sensation without the
problem of odour and similarly, experiment a chemical reaction without burns.

13. Word walls

Science word walls in classrooms can stimulate the interest of students in the subject
and an opportunity for them to illustrate different concepts. In an advanced technique,
a more in-depth understanding of different scientific terms can be made possible with
pictures that accompany the words.
This is also an option to help them better understand words with multiple meanings.
Teachers can design creative word walls or ask students to contribute to the idea
weekly or monthly.

14. Thinking Maps

This is an ideal way to visually represent different thought processes which help to
organize the science education with a better flow. There are different types of thinking
maps available which can be chosen wisely to represent the particular topic. This
includes bridge maps to teach relation between ideas, brace maps to break larger
objects into smaller parts, flow maps to show sequence of events, multi-flow maps to
show effects or causes of an event, tree maps to classify objects or ideas and more.

15. Mini anchor charts

These interesting charts are a great idea to give a detailed overview or explanation of
a science topic. Teachers use it to interactively teach areas such as scientific methods,
types of energy, plant life cycle, states of matter, mixtures and solutions, force &
motion and more. To make the whole idea interesting, the teacher brings variations
such as black and white charts, colored ones; fill in the blank models, and full-page
anchor charts for large classrooms.

16. Crossover Learning

In this teaching method, students are given opportunity to learn in multiple settings
such as inside the classroom, museums, field trips or clubs. Teachers can use this
method effectively by proposing a question in class, taking students to informal
settings to find answers and then, going back to classrooms to discuss and share the
findings. This way, learners can record, link, recall and share their diverse learning
events to explore the topic and get a deeper level understanding.
17. Argue with Science
Learning through argumentation gives students a widened thinking to contrasting
ideas which in turn deepen their understanding. They can refine ideas with others and
engage with open-ended questions, and re-state observations or remarks in a more
scientific language. Teachers can also guide them in their approach and share the
intellectual expertise with them.

18. Context-Based Learning

In this method, students are given the opportunity to create context and explore ideas
from them. They interact with surroundings, hold conversations with subject experts,
make relevant notes and attempt to modify the nearby objects. The context can be
understood in detail by exploring the world around. This gradually helps them to
interpret new information from the context and relate to what they already know.

19. Computational thinking

This is an advanced technique to improve thinking and problem-solving skills. The
method comprises decomposition i.e. breaking large problems into small units and
pattern recognition-related problems to the ones which were already solved
successfully in the past. Computational thinking skills also cover algorithms-step by
step approach to reach a solution; abstraction-neglecting unimportant details and
debugging-refining these steps.

20. Remote labs

Learning by doing is an unparalleled approach to teach science and this is made a
reality with remote labs. Students are given access to authentic scientific tools and
opportunities to control remote lab experiments. This would enhance their inquiry
skills and conceptual understanding and also, the students can learn and explore with
motivation.
21. Embodied Learning
In this approach, mind and body of the students work together to explore science. The
physical feedback, as well as the resultant actions, will reinforce their learning
process. This idea is well supported by today’s technology such as visual systems that
track movement or wearable sensors to collect physical and biological data.

22. Science museums

Give opportunity to students to visit a science museum as part of the learning process.
This gives them access to innovative resources and they can visualize data they
learned in class. They can have a look at the real work of scientists which improves
their urge to learn about it further. Regular visits to museums make learning science
more engaging and interesting.

23. Projects
This can be an individual activity or group activity which helps students to showcase
the application side of what they learnt through theory. This method involves
choosing the idea, building a plan, executing the plan and finally evaluating it. When
students pass through these stages, they can improve their skills to express ideas,
problem solving, overcoming the challenges, team work and self assessment.

24. Multimedia Approach

This method is a blend of text, audio, animation, video, still images or interactivity
content forms to teach diverse difficult to understand concepts in science. The
educator can convey vast information using advanced media, devices and techniques,
and involve a wide range of activities to provide a meaningful learning experience.

25. ICT Enabled Learning

ICT refers to the use of Information and Communications Technology to teach the
scientific ideas that promotes open source learning. In order to make the accessing,
storing, transmitting, and manipulation of information more easy, this approach
integrates telecommunications, computers and relevant enterprise software, storage,
middleware, and audio-visual systems required to handle the topic.

26. Video clips

This teaching technique makes use of instructional video clips available online or in
libraries to show and teach a new concept. The evolution of a process can be
conveyed better with animation videos. It can also be videos of demonstration of an
idea or an application side of a theory or an interview with a scientist, tutorial by a
subject expert and more.

27. Power Points

Instead of the conventional talk and chalk methods, teachers now include power point
presentations in their classroom sessions to make it more interesting. They connect the
computers to projectors to address a larger classroom and include interesting slides
with diagrams and flow charts to make the teaching more interactive.

28. Mini-labs
Mini-labs allow students to take part in hands-on activities inside the classrooms to
illustrate a concept. This makes classroom sessions more fun, engaging and
memorable. Students can attempt to mock-up day/night with a globe and flashlight,
build circuits, test for conductivity and magnetism, produce mixtures and solutions or
model the formation of sedimentary rock and more.

29. Science Fair

Schools should conduct science fairs as part of their teaching strategy to promote
students interest in the subject as well as to evaluate their level of understanding.
In this competition, students are given a time frame to answer a question or perform a
task through a range of experiments and research. They showcase the output in the
form of reports, display board, or as models.

30. Research books

The teacher can promote the use of research books in classrooms rather than just text
books and lecture notes. Students are asked to do a research on whatever topic is
covered in class by means of libraries, websites or by talking with experts. This can
include the extended information of their syllabus and their findings with diagrams
and charts to emphasize it. They can share their research books with classmates too.

31. Documented Problem Solving

In this method, the teacher insists students record their thought process when solving a
problem. They are asked to explain their reasoning for reaching the particular solution
rather than simply presenting a solution. This kind of documented problem solving
helps them to have a deeper understanding of their process and gives an option for
self-analysis.

32. Science kit

This is one of the innovative methods of teaching science to kids and adults alike. Let
it be physical science, life science, or earth science, teachers are now making use of
science kits to help students have an engaging educational experience. They can
conduct small experiments with guided instructions to identify rock specimens, to
watch out for insect metamorphosis or demonstrate chemistry reactions.

33. Science stations

This is a fun, quick and engaging way to teach science that promotes student-led
learning. Science stations support differentiated learning that lets students immerse
themselves in topics, experience science to the fullest and then reflect back on their
learning. There will be multiple stations built with different learning styles and
students can research, explore, watch, read, write, assess and illustrate the science
concepts.

34. Observation stations

More than just the textbook assignments that have limitations in exploring the topic,
these advanced observation stations help students to build up their research,
observation, and creativity. This includes activities that help them to have an
understanding of a specific concept using 5 to 6 stations with varied options. The
activities include determining mass using a triple beam balance or testing objects to
find out their electrical conductivity and magnetism and a lot more.

35. Peer-to-Peer Teaching

Students take the role of teaching each other that promotes excitement learning
science. In Peer-to-Peer Teaching approach, they are really engaged in the content by
discussing scientific topics, generating questions and working in teams to explore new
information. Some of the activities involved in this approach include buzz groups,
solution groups, and critic groups.

36. Science movies

Teachers take initiatives to take them for science movies in theatres or in school halls
that clearly showcase the application side of scientific concepts. More than just
entertaining them, many science movies captivate their attention and illustrate diverse
science concepts in the real world. Science and nature-focused documentaries is one
of the best ways to introduce science to kids than spoon feeding them with text book
content.

37. Science games for kids

Kids always love to play and that is why smart teachers introduce science to them
with interesting games. They can learn more about science and technology with fun.
A wide range of games are available online that showcase the concepts of animals,
plants, space, forces, light, sounds, magnets, electricity, weather and gases. There are
games with multiple levels and passing each level teaches a new concept and
illustrates scientific experiments.

38. Science songs

This is another creative teaching method to help kids to learn about the science world
with fun. Teachers can make use of the interesting science songs available online or
create one to introduce the basics of astronomy, biology, botany, physical science and
earth science with fun. Science Is Real, Meet the Elements, The Star Song and Motion
Song are a few among the popular science songs available online.

39. Science Exhibition

Encourage your students to take part in science exhibitions as part of school level or
inter-school level competitions. This is a great opportunity to bring out their creativity
in science and design an application based on a scientific concept. Develop this
inquisitiveness and creative mindset in students right from the elementary classes to
help them to grow up as science enthusiasts.

40. Mobile apps for Science

A number of mobile apps are available online for elementary, middle school and high
school students as well as for those undergoing advanced studies. Today’s kids are
tech savvies and they love to learn science using their gadgets. The advanced mobile
apps built with innovative features in fact turn students into scientists. This lets them
hold science in their hands and explore it with just a few taps. The popular apps in the
category include Human Body, Cozmic Zoom, Earth Primer, Video Science,
Science360, NASA GLOBE Observer and a lot more.

41. Field trips

In the middle of boring classroom sessions, take your students out for field trips to
experience science while learning. Go to an aquarium, a nature center, a scientist’s
home or visit a pet store. You can also spend some time with the students in the bird
park or simply go on a nature walk to experience the science around while learning
new concepts.

42. Science clubs

Set up science clubs in your schools or community, which is an ideal approach to
STEM education that assimilates high quality hands-on instruction. This is the right
place for science enthusiasts to share and discuss new happenings in the science world
and to connect innovative ideas to what they actually learned.

43. Reward discovery

Right from the elementary classes, teachers should support, guide and inspire students
to discover the wonders of science. With an inquisitive mindset, there are a lot to
discover from the science world we are living in. Also, reward them for the small
discoveries they make and let them share and present it in class.

44. Interactive science journals

This is an advanced version of lecture notes in which students express the information
they learnt into different templates and elicit their own responses.
Students can use this technique effectively to have a deeper connection to their
learning and this activity promotes their higher level thinking. They can be creative
with their notebooks using pictures, charts and comments, thus, building an
encompassing resource for future reference.

45. Science at home

Like scientists say, science starts from home. Encourage your students to discover
science at home from elementary classes itself. Ask them to find out a specific science
concept application at home as assignments and let them discover science on the go.
There are fun science activities at home that involve parents and kids such as
measuring Earth’s circumference with a shadow, creating under water fireworks with
chemistry, building a balloon powered toy car and a lot more.

46. Flipped Classroom

In this innovative teaching technique, students are asked to go through video
instructions or tutorials in the initial stage, i.e. digital learning. The second stage will
be in classrooms where they involve in challenging tasks and assignments based on
the information gathered through video assets. This flipped learning frees up class
time for activities such as hands-on labs, guided practice or online simulations.

47. Guided Discovery Problems

Understanding science is more than just knowing some facts and the guided discovery
problems method makes it possible. This technique can be integrated into the lecture,
lab and field courses. It refers to understanding science step-by-step through the
discovery process and involves the collection and processing of data, debugging and
explaining it through intriguing puzzles, structured hands-on activities and right
presentation of information.
The conceptually difficult or counter-intuitive topics are better handled with this
approach.

48. Fishbone
This is a visual tool for organizing critical thinking which is a good approach for
problem solving in science. The fishbone diagram helps to teach students about the
root causes leading to a problem and quantifying the relationship between the effect
and cause. This is more effective when teaching a group. In this diagram approach,
the head of the fish represents the change, the ribs show the reason and riblets have
the supportive evidence.

49. Science Quiz

Include a quiz as a part of your classroom sessions when teaching science. This can be
done as a whole class activity by splitting the group into 4 or more sets. The questions
can include the application of the theory taught in class. Students can discuss and
share ideas to find the solution within the stipulated time frame. This teaching
approach helps students to think from different angles and sometimes, to think out of
the box.

50. Build your model

This can be a challenging task given to students as part of science education. Models
are the building blocks of science which are used to explain the diverse aspects of real
world. Ask your students to build their own model using the scientific knowledge they
have acquired and you can provide supportive guidance. Students will be creative in
making models and designing their own imaginative means of testing them. This is
the right approach to find the scientist in them.
The new era teachers and science enthusiasts have come up with many innovative
teaching methods in science and the listed ones are just a few among them. We live in
a scientific world and the advanced teaching strategies are helping students to
discover and explore science every day.

Other than the listed methods, teachers looking for advanced techniques can also try
group discussion, case studies, laboratory experiments, seminar, outdoor teaching,
creative illustrations, crafts, dramatization, and interactive lecture demonstrations to
help students to experience the beauty of science.