ERIC Number: EJ832083
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Jun
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1609-4913
EISSN: N/A
Using "What If.." Questions to Teach Science
Tan, Kok Siang
Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, v8 n1 Article 16 Jun 2007
With the widening knowledge base students will need to be more flexible in their learning habits. Traditionally, teaching school science often involves teacher-centred methods like lectures, experimental demonstration or guided inquiry. Plain knowledge dissemination will not adequately prepare students to cope with the changing world. Hence, schools need to train students to be reflective in their learning habits--that is, getting students to be observant, to generate relevant alternatives and to make sense of these ideas. This article discusses a well-documented reflective learning strategy--the use of "what if" questions, to help students extend their learning beyond curricular requirements. Students are introduced to a distillation set up and then asked to pose "what if" questions about it. Their questions and the corresponding peer responses are a wealth of information for teachers to explore how science may be taught differently and with a greater impact on their students' learning experience. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Learning Strategies, Learning Experience, Questioning Techniques, Lesson Plans, Scientific Concepts, Science Instruction, Foreign Countries, Science Experiments, Secondary School Science, Chemistry, Teaching Methods
Hong Kong Institute of Education. 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Tel: +011-852-2948-7650; Fax: +011-852-2948-7726; e-mail: apfslt@sci.ied.edu.hk; Web site: http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Singapore
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A