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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 8, Issue 1, Article
16 (June, 2007) Kok Siang TAN Using “What if..” questions to teach science |
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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 8, Issue 1, Article
16 (June, 2007) Kok Siang TAN Using “What if..” questions to teach science |
Recommendations and Conclusion
The curricular statements that are used to assess students in some high-stake public examinations have all along dictated the teaching of science and other school subjects. However, unique to science are the elements of teaching through experiments and the high degree of creativity needed to solve problems. While it may be necessary to retain the lecture-demonstration style of lesson delivery, especially where basic experimental science topics are concern, teachers can try identifying opportunities for students to ask questions and insert short sessions within their assigned curricular schedules to let students have a go at posing and answering their own questions. This would help the students develop highly transferable skills of observing, generating and relating, and thus build a reflective learning culture in the classroom and laboratory. On the effectiveness of using “what if” questions, and in general, the use of student-generated questions of whatever form, research studies may best be done on specific topics and with groups of students of differing academic abilities. Teachers would agree that students’ motivation to learn is an essential precursor to their achievement in school.
Copyright (C) 2007 HKIEd APFSLT. Volume 8, Issue 1, Article 16 (June, 2007). All Rights Reserved.
