Our Framework
In our schools, science is presented as a list of isolated facts and figures that are listed in a text book. This Body of Knowledge (facts, laws, theories and figures) explains our current understanding of the world around us.
However, we believe, science is a lot more than just a Body of Knowledge. The Nature of Science is empirical, it involves creativity and imagination, observations and inferences and a wide range of processes and methods, among other things.
In an age that is driven by technology , if we want our students to succeed at careers in science, engineering or technology, mastering both elements of science - the Body of Knowledge and the Nature of Science - is essential.
Our approach does exactly that. While we still guide our students in learning grade level concepts, we do so by actively engaging them in key science and engineering practices. Our instructions, while being informed by the three dimensional approach introduced by the The National Research Council (NRC), USA in "A Framework for K-12 Science Education", have been curated to the specific needs and requirements of our students and their syllabus.
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"SCIENCE IS A WAY of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge. Its goal is to find out how the world works, to seek what regularities there may be, to penetrate to the connections of things—from subnuclear particles, which may be the constituents of all matter, to living organisms, the human social community, and thence to the cosmos as a whole. "
Carl Sagan. Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science.1986
Lesson Plan Features
Lesson plans are the core of our delivery method. They guide our facilitators through the concepts, tools and processes required to deliver the best and most innovative learning environment. All our lessons plans use tried and tested, research-based methods for learning.
Preconceptions
We believe identifying student preconceptions is critical to effective learning. We use multiple techniques like Concept Maps, POE's, Group Discussions, Three Tier MC questions and more to identify preconceptions which then guide the delivery of our lesson plans.
Instructions
Our Instructions have three components - Storyline, Science and Engineering Practices and Activities.
Storylines guide our facilitators on how to progress through the lesson while incorporating key practices. Activities and models are guided by the Maker methodologies for best results.
Assessment & Follow-up
Traditionally, assessment is used after instructions to determine how much the student remembers as opposed to how much he/she has learned. However, if used correctly, assessment can be a learning tool. Our testing techniques require more cognitive effort making them effective learning tools.
Our Space
Our goal is to make learning science exciting and informative through concept-focused, hands-on projects. In addition to creating a better learning environment, this approach helps develop critical design, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills.
Incorporating project based methodologies into our instructions also gives our students an opportunity to learn cutting edge tools, like 3-D design and printing tools, 2-D modelling tools, electronics, robotics and physical computing - skills that, we believe, are critical for the future workforce.
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Our workspace is equipped with the same tools, technologies and resources that can be found in some of the best Makerspaces of the world. Having spent the last few years exploring and studying similar spaces in Universities, Schools and Science Museums in USA, we have setup our space based on best practices from the Edgerton Center at MIT, USA.