Teaching of General Science

Teaching of General Science

Introduction:

 Science has become an essential and integral part of our life. Without the knowledge of basic principles , concepts , theories and laws of science one cannot understand and explain a number of   daily-life processes and many phenomena which one observes and experience in one’s life . Hence a basic knowledge about the fundamentals of science has become a necessity of everyone. Furthermore, science is not only a knowledge rather it is a attitude towards nature I a way of thinking as well as a way of life. Keeping this in view, science has been given the status of a compulsory subject in any education system in the form of “general science”. So it is being taught even to the students of arts, literature and social sciences. It is due to this large scale demand of science teaching that we need a large number of science teachers. These science teachers must be equipped with an in-depth knowledge with full understanding and well-developed skills to communicate (teach) the concepts, principles, theories and laws of science at elementary and secondary level. They must have competence and command over the content of science from class I-X as well as over the latest available methods, techniques and approaches towards science teaching. They must keep in mind the objectives of science teaching and its need and importance in the advancement and progress of the society and civilization. These courses on the “teaching of general science” have been designed to meet all these requirements. Course -1 deals with the content of general science from classes I-X and course-II discusses on the methods & techniques of teaching science. Course-III deals with the practical work & developing teaching materials in science.

Objectives:-

The general objectives of this course are to enable the student teachers to:

v  Understand and apply the concepts of science in daily life .

v  Develop scientific thinking and  scientific attitude among their students

v  Plan, organize and teach a lesson on a given topic of science in the light of theory and research in science education

v  Understand recent trends and issues in methods and techniques of teaching science at elementary and secondary level

v  Comprehend and teach theories , Laws and principles of science effectively upto secondary level

v  Understand and apply the scientific method in  daily life

v  Understand and apply various methods and techniques for teaching concepts of science

v  Develop scientific thinking and scientific attitude among their students

v  Select an appropriate method or technique for teaching a given topic of science by developing and arranging necessary materials and conditions

v  Plan organize and teach  a lesson  on a given topic of science in the light of theories and research in  science education

v  Understand recent trends and issues in methods and techniques of teaching science  at elementary and secondary levels

Course Outline

Part-I

Unit-1.Introduction & history of Science:

Ø    Nature, scope and importance of science education 

Ø    Scientific Method

Ø    Branches of science

Ø    Science and society

Ø    Important scientist

Ø    Islam and science

Unit:2. Cell as Unit of life

Animal and plant cell

Ø   Chemical composition

Ø   Chromosomes and genes

Ø   Microscopic Organisms

Ø   Bacteria and Viruses

Ø   Growth of human body

Ø   Components and role of nutrition

Unit-3.Essential Elements of Life

Needs, importance and role of following elements in plants & animals; Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Calcium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sulphur, Chlorine, Sodium, Magnesium, Iron etc.

Unit-4. Structure of Atom and Radioactivity

Ø   Atom

Ø   Fission and fusion

Ø   Peaceful use of atomic energy

Ø   Definition, unit and types of energy

Ø   Energy sources

Ø   Conservation of energy

Unit-5. Modern Technology

Engine, Radio, Computer, Laser, Tape Recorder, Radar, Telephone, Television, Astronomy, Pakistan’s Space Program

Unit-6. Environmental and Natural Resources

Ø   Minerals

Ø   Agricultural recourses

Ø   Marine Resources

Ø   Pollution and its types

Ø   Population explosion

Ø   Ecological balance

Ø   Water logging and salinity

Ø   Urbanization

Part II

Unit-7. Use of A.V-aids in teaching general science

Ø  Planning lessons

Ø  Activities in science classrooms

Ø  Imparting instruction

Unit-8.Different methods used in the teaching of general science (A detailed study of the nature, scope procedures, merits, demerits and application of the following methods and techniques)

Ø  Expository method

Ø  Laboratorial or practical method

Ø  Logical puzzles

Ø  Demonstration

Ø  Discussion method

Ø  Problem solving method

Ø  Project method

Ø  Modeling

Ø  Discovery and inquiry method

Ø  Modular instruction

Ø  Activity based

Unit-9.  New Trends in Science Teaching

Ø  CAI and ICT

Ø  Science technology and society

Ø  Science technology and literacy

Ø  New trends in teaching of  General Science at Elementary and Secondary level

Recommended Books

Feden ,P.D. and Vogal , R.M.(2003). Methods of teaching: Applying cognitive science to promote students learning .Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Hoong , T. L. Leng , H. P. (2003) . Lower Secondary Science 2 Singapore :SNPPanpac

Hoong , T. L. Leng,H. P. (2003). Lower Secondary Science I Singapore :SNPPanpac

Qureshi, N. A. et al (2002). Science 3.Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board .

Qureshi, A. M. et al (2003). General Science. Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. et al (2002 b).Science 1.Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. ( 2003 a). Science 2.Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. (2004).Science 3.Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F. ( 2003 b). Science 7.Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.

Saleemi, F.et al (2002 a).Science 6.Lahore: Punjab Text Book Board.