Teaching Science with Technology

Students today live with technology being a big part of their lives. Many students enter kindergarten with some experience with computers and the Internet. Current research indicates a correlation between use of technology for instruction and increased student achievement.

In the last 15 years, technology has exploded in education. With the addition of technology as an instructional tool, students and teachers have many more resources. Technology can be used in many ways in the classroom, from remediation to direct instruction. Students projects and researches are easier nowadays because of the presence of the advanced technology.

Educational technology tools such as computers, digital microscopes, and interactive white boards can help students actively engaged in the classroom activities and knowledge inquiry.

When educational technology tools are used appropriately and effectively in science classrooms, students actively engage in their knowledge construction and improve their thinking and problem solving skills (Trowbridge, Bybee, & Powel, 2008).

This is supported by the Chinese proverb: “I hear, I forget. I see, I remember”, students need to see in order to understand and this what is usually important in science as some processes taking place inside the humans body couldn’t be understood if not observed and at the same time are impossible to observe as  for example a functioning heart.

Teachers need to attend to the use of technology in teaching science for higher students’ achievement and to stay up to date.  Teachers not only need to know their content but also need to know how to present it effectively.

Schools as well should enrich its materials with various technology instruments as computers, videos, technical resources, microscopes……..

How to prepare your child for an exam

 Exams are stressful, and not just for children. Some might say that exam stress hits parents just as hard. Parents’ attitude with their children at exam times influence the children performance, parents play an important role in preparing students for their exams,  As a parent, one needs to prepare the child through; having the child study for the exam, warm up psychologically for the exam and ensure a relaxed and healthy atmosphere.

 

Students need to study for the exam the content they will be examined in, the parent’s role is to identify the key questions of the topics and set them as achievement targets, guiding the child on how to answer and what should be included in the answer by practicing answer questions, parents as well should help the child after done from revising the content, practice an actual test at home and go through extra exercises from resources other than those of the school. It is important to remember that you, the parent, are not helpless.

 Most importantly, parents should try not to pressurize their children into studying. There are many different routes to excellence in studies.

Talk with your child’s teacher(s) often to see what you can do at home to support your child’s work in school and ask your child’s teacher for copies of practice questions.

If your child is a low achiever, then you need to figure out the cause of being slow, if it is a matter of motivation then you need for example to relate a math problem to real life so the child get anxious. For average and high achievers, you must reveal the importance of revision and the value of hard work in achieving success.

Parents should stay positive and make their children feel that they like what they are studying and they want to do well.  It may be necessary for you to sit next to him to encourage him. Try not to add to your child’s stress levels by focusing on outcome (ex. you must score at least 19 out of 20marks).

 

As the child is done with studying the exam, parents have to encourage their children and make them feel that they are well prepared to take the test. Encourage your child to listen/ read carefully to all test-taking directions and to ask questions if any directions are unclear and not to get stressed or confused when get stuck on any question.  Parents should as well warn their children from cheating on the test either through trying to copy an answer or give their answers to other students as this has many future effects on the child’s attitude and behavior and could lead to a failed mark in the exam. Parents should prepare all materials needed for their children on the test and have to make sure that nothing is lacking them.

Parents need to make sure that their child gets proper sleep before the exams so he/she has a relaxed mind, and make sure to provide a proper and healthy diet, a diet of food containing omega 3 is recommended as it is  said to be an aid to concentration and don't let them skip meals. . Let them watch a bit of TV, have a warm drink and a read before trying to go to sleep. Parents should make sure that the cloth their children wear should be appropriate with the weather so the child doesn’t get cold or warm as this affects his performance during the test.

Education and Society

Education is more than reading, writing, and mathematics. It is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people to reduce poverty and inequality. Education plays a vital role in the development of the society. Educated people help to maintain a civilized society. People in an educated society communicate with each other, understand each others’ problems and provide solutions. Education helps people to disagree in an agreeable way. Through education, a person or an individual residing in a society will be fully aware as to how he should and ought to lead his life according to the principals of morals and ethics.

The role of education is to improve the society by recognizing yourself and your role in society. Education holds hidden curriculums besides the academic ones. Schools teach moral and ethics. Durkheim (Moral Education 1962) believed that education was important in creating the moral unity necessary for social cohesion and harmony. For Durkheim, moral values were the foundation of society.

Education characterizes an individual with respect over the whole community as well it enriches one with knowledge and information that help to solve and overcome life problems. As well, education gives most people a sense of wisdom.

Education helps to spread health and social awareness, it helps fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, helps improve health and helps people to differentiate good from evil as education enriches people with experience of others through stories.

Education leads to less criminals and a less violent society.

A healthy society develops when education plays its role properly.