Teaching Hands-on Science Experiments during COVID-19 Pandemic - Lesson learned from the USC Young Scientists Program
Abstract
Teaching hands-on science experiments during COVID-19 pandemic is challenging and incorporates a unique set of logistics. Teachers will have to partner directly with parents and support them in connecting science phenomena with the everyday activities in their household — for example, using the idea of connecting cooking with chemistry, gardening with photosynthesis or fixing and making things with the engineering design process. The USC Young Scientists Program had to get creative with supplies students have around the house and give students the chance to deeply explore those concepts in an investigative manner with supplies one can only get at the grocery store. It's assumed that one has high-quality internet connection at home and a phone or computer device on which one can learn from. Since this access may not be there, it can be a challenge to find lessons and activities that are equally accessible and don't put extra pressure or stress on already frazzled households. Teachers shouldn't be recreating the in-person experience online. Come up with projects that are uniquely suited for being taught online to the students in their homes. We let the imperfections of the situation be what they are (e.g. like a pet entering the video conference call). USC YSP embraced mistakes, demonstrating a growth mindset with failed attempts as blooper reels at the end of the semester. We allowed for the uncomfortable silence that the online environment fosters and recommended extending the response time as students adjust to learning online. USC YSP provided feedback and guidance, but reassured the USC YSP teachers that they are acting like real scientists by dealing with the constraints of their situation, using the materials they have available, and trying their best to make meaning out of their world.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMED023..07K
- Keywords:
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- 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design;
- EDUCATION;
- 0825 Teaching methods;
- EDUCATION