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HBSC1203 TEACHING SCIENCE FOR LOWER PRIMARY 1

ROSYIDAH BT IBRAHIM

810809-02-5494

1

Introduction

The purpose of science education is to enable individuals to use scientific process skills; in

other words, to be able to define the problems around them, to observe, to analyze, to hypothesize, to

experiment, to conclude, to generalize, and to apply the information they have with the necessary

skills. Scientific process skills (SPS) include skills that every individual could use in each step of

his/her daily life by being scientifically literate and increasing the quality and standard of life by

comprehending the nature of science. Therefore, these skills affect the personal, social, and global

lifes of individuals. The SPS are a necessary tool to produce and use scientific information, to

perform scientific research, and to solve problems. These skills can be gained by students through

certain science education activities (Harlen, 1999; Huppert, Lomask & Lazarorcitz, 2002). For

example, the purpose of learning by using a research study is to help teach the scientific processes.

The students undertaking a scientific research study can learn the processes of science (Dhillon,

1996).

Scientists use their creativity in every stage of scientific research (Abd-el Khalick &

Lederman, 2000). So the creativity has a supplementary role in many scientific processes. It is used

especially in introducing problems and hypotheses and designing experiments. That¶s why science is

a process containing the creativity components affecting each step of life, in addition to being a

product (Saxena, 1994). Individuals need to think creatively and to be able to use their scientific

process skills in order to develop a fundamental scientific understanding. And creative scientists are

required to find useful and new solutions for the problems existing in daily life. Creative scientists

are much more sensitive regarding problems. Every educated individual may not be a scientist, but it

is important for each person to begin his or her educational life by applying creative thinking. All

individuals who learned to think creatively while dealing with the scientific work can also apply

these skills in other areas (Meador, 2003). Although creativity is accepted as a problem solving skill

in research literature, it requires creative performance, recognizing the problem, thinking differently,

and finding solutions. Recognizing the problem plays an extremely important role in the creative

process (Erdener, 2003).




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1. Three important components to teaching and learning biology.

Figure 1

i) Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore

observations and answer questions. Scientists use the scientific method to search

for cause and effect relationships in nature. In other words, they design an experiment so

that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way.Just as it does for a professional scientist, the scientific method will help you to focus

your science fair project question, construct a hypothesis, design, execute, and evaluate

your experiment.

Scientific method

Scientific skills Scientific attitudes

and noble values




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Steps of the Scientific Method

Ask a Question: The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you

observe: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

And, in order for the scientific method to answer the question it must be about something that you

can measure, preferably with a number.

Do Background Research: Rather than starting from scratch in putting together a plan for

answering your question, you want to be a savvy scientist using library and Internet research to help

you find the best way to do things and insure that you don't repeat mistakes from the past.

Construct a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work:

"If _____ [I do this] _____, then _____ [this] _____ will happen."

You must state your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure, and of course, your

hypothesis should be constructed in a way to help you answer your original question.

Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment: Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis

is true or false. It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. You conduct a fair test by

making sure that you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same.You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just

an accident.

Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion: Once your experiment is complete, you collect your

measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis is true or false.

Scientists often find that their hypothesis was false, and in such cases they will construct a new

hypothesis starting the entire process of the scientific method over again. Even if they find that their

hypothesis was true, they may want to test it again in a new way.

Communicate Your Results: To complete your science fair project you will communicate your

results to others in a final report and/or a display board. Professional scientists do almost exactly the

same thing by publishing their final report in a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a

poster at a scientific meeting.




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The importance of the scientific method is to find the most accurate answer possible for

the certain experiment.

ii) Scientific skills

The first step in implementing a skills-based approach to science instruction begins

by carefully defining what we would like children to be able to do. Discovery

Works organizes science skills into three separate groups: Process Skills, Reasoning

Skills, and Critical Thinking Skills. These groups correspond to three distinct types of

cognitive skills. Process skills are used to gather information about the world. Reasoning

skills help children make sense of the information they gather by fostering an open mind,

curiosity, logic, and a data-based approach to understanding the world. Critical thinking

skills require students to apply information in new situations and in solving problems.

SCIENCE PROCESS SK ILLS

SK ILL DESCRIPTION

Observing Determining the properties of an object or event by using the senses

Classifying Grouping objects or events according to their properties

Measuring/Using

Numbers

Skills include:

y Describing quantitatively using appropriate units of measurement

y Estimatingy Recording quantitative data

y Space or time relationships

CommunicatingUsing written and spoken words, graphs, tables, diagrams, and other information presentations, including those that are technology based

Inferring Drawing a conclusion about a specific event based on observations anddata; may include cause and effect relationships

PredictingAnticipating consequences of a new or changed situation using past

experiences and observation

Collecting, Recording,and Interpreting Data

Manipulating data, either collected by self or by others, in order to make

meaningful information and then finding patterns in that information thatlead to making inferences, predictions and hypotheses

Identifying and

Controlling Variables

Identifying the variables in a situation; selecting variables to be

manipulated and held constant




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Defining OperationallyDefining terms within the context of one's own experiences; stating adefinition in terms of "what you do" and "what you observe"

Making Hypotheses Proposing an explanation based on observations

ExperimentingInvestigating, manipulating materials, and testing hypotheses to determine

a resultMaking and Using

Models

Representing the "real world" using a physical or mental model in order to

understand the larger process or phenomenon

iii) Scientific Attitude and Noble Values

Noble values and scientific attitudes can be inculcated through the learning of science.

Through science activities children will develop an interest and curiosity about their

surroundings. They will learn to be objective and systematic in carrying out

investigations. Children also learn to be honest and accurate in record data. They

develop concern for living things and an awareness of their responsibility towards the

environment.

Scientific attitude and noble values :-

a) Curios and interest towards the environment;

b) Honest and accurate in recording and validating data;

c) Flexible and open-minded;

d) Patient in conducting experiments or understanding events;

e) Systematic and confident;

f) Cooperative;

g) Responsible towards self-safety and of others as well as the environment.




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2. The Advantages and Drawbacks of The Genetic Engineering

The application of genetic engineering on human beings relates to the controlled alteration of

all the genes in the human chromosomal. Deoxyribonucleic acid, otherwise known as DNA, is

responsible for the genetic characteristics for every living organism. It can influence the

individual's physical appearance, actions and abilities. Now with the advance of DNA

technology, scientists are able to change the gene expressions and the individuals' abilities,

cognitively, communally or physically. In my essay, I will analyze the pros and cons of human

genetic engineering by presenting two sides of an argument and my personal opinions on the

topic itself.

Genetic engineering is use to repair damages or replace the missing genes in those who have

genetic disorders in the form of gene therapy otherwise known as somatic. This state of genetic

engineering can help lessen many genetic disorder problems, such as severe combined

immunodeficiency, cystic fibrosis and so on. The process of somatic undertakes a non-

pathogenic virus system. The good copy of the individual's genes is been inserted into liposomes,

which are the microscopic fatty droplets. The new cells would separate as normal cells and eachdivision would stimulate the destined cells trait. The result of the procedure would be that the

individual would then have the gene cells that were absent previously. Personally, I think this

trade of genetic engineering is useful as it helps those who have genetic disorders and make them

better. This can lead to a improved future for them, as they do not feel isolated from the society

because of their health problems.

On the contrary, genetic disorders only represent a small fraction of the ill health burden.

Despite this figures, a large disproportionate amount of research funding is being spend on gene

therapy protocols, yet however in spite of many years of research, none of the protocols have so

far succeeded. Adenoviruses, a type of pathogenic attenuated vectors are use to transfer genes

into patients. In this case, the genes may experience an unflavoured manner as it combines with

wild type versions of viruses in the body and this generally results to further complications. It

can weaken the patient or even can lead to fatal. This gene therapy has already resulted one death

from their use. Even though it can be great achievements on patients with disorders of genetic, I




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feel that it is unnecessary for researchers to invest a large amount of money for the therapy

protocols. These huge sums can help those who are hungry, homeless and so on.

DNA resulting from gene-splicing is use in genetic screening that is to test the patient's

genomes for gene distinguishes which might later result to genetic disorders. This procedure is

also tested on unborn babies for the sign of mongolism, also known as Down's syndrome. These

abnormal chromosomes resulting to mental deficiency, slanted eyes and short broad hands, cause

this disease. Any unwanted foetuses can be aborted hence it will gradually decrease the

undeliverable population traits. Gene screening can also be carried out on embryos produced for

in vitro fertilisation, IVF. This method will save implanting embryos with undesired

characteristics for example the gender of the baby. Soon, parents might be able to create babies

designed to meet their own wishes.

Sperms and eggs from intelligent and attractive people are already offered for sale on the

Internet. This means that by genetically extract the right DNA from the sperms and eggs,

scientist will be able to design a perfect human being of the parents' desires. Although this

manner of proceeding will result to the decrease number of unwanted babies and help those who

are infertile in the form of IVF, I feel that designer babies is not morally right as the individual

would be an instrument of the parents' desires and reflects their vanity and selfishness self.

An argument to follow my opinion is as follow. IVF procedure is highly wasteful of eggs,

sperms and embryos. Hundreds are needed for one successful implantation. Each and every one

of the embryos has a potential to be a full human beings. So, is it morally right for parents to kill

the numerous amounts of unwanted embryos just because they do not qualify the parents' desire?

Surely not. This treatment could lead human beings to be egotistical and only care about one's

self. In addition, Down's syndrome children are often regards as a gift in their families. These

special children are grateful of their lives and they also propose opportunities for family

members to learn and develop the skills and knowledge which they might not developed

previously. Also how the society that we live in changes its attitude as it accepts those people

with essential needs and disabilities.

Experimentally, gene therapy is being applied to treat cancer. Cancer is the major class of

diseases in the total burden of ill health. The advantage of this procedure is that it only aims at




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the cancerous cells therefore avoiding collateral damage to other tissues on the surrounding by

the chemical therapies and current radiation. This technique is effective as it prevents any further

complications on the patients as it only targets on the damage cancerous cells. Also, the patient

will be least affected by the radiation. If gene therapy is approved and could be done widely, it

will reduce the amount of patients with cancerous problems.

Conversely, cancer is influenced by the environmental circumstances as food, water, lifestyle

and carcinogenic chemicals in air, by tackling these factors, we will be able to reduce the

numerous amount of cancer rather than using the technology of gene therapy. Also, whilst

removing the cancer growth, the doctor might not observed the underlying causes of the cancer

and as a result, a tumour will formed. It will take another chemical therapy to remove it and

therefore it just creates more problems and money is needed to pay for the treatment. Therefore, I

generally feel that it is a waste of time, effort and money to try to reduce the major class of

diseases when it can be done through the every day lifestyles of the individuals that is by looking

after their health diet.

In conclusion, I would consider that genetic engineering has its advantage and disadvantages.

It can help those with genetic disorders and treat cancer in a form of gene therapy. It is also

useful for infertile parents who wished to have a child of their own. On the other hand, it makeshuman beings to become selfish. Just a tiny error can cause a fatal result on the patients and can

lead to death. On the whole, I feel that genetic engineering is morally right thing to do if is done

in a well manner with careful concentration and without selfishness. I believe that designer

babies and cloning is morally wrong as it is an act of egoism and manifest.1

1Izra Jute (2010)




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Conclusion

Various activities can be used by teachers in teaching science subjects to attract students to

learn science. In learning science, teaching in the classroom should be more focused involvement of

students. While the teacher as facilitator to guide students to perform an activity.

As we know, learning science will be more meaningful if done in a hands-on, not only in minds-on.

Activities conducted by students in hands-on will enhance their understanding further facilitate their

making long-term memory.

The basic underlying principle of science process skills rest upon the premise that science has

to be taught as a procedure of inquiry. Therefore student must be taught to be careful and responsible

in conducting experiments, recording and analysing data and making conclusion. This is important

because students must be aware of the consequence and impact of the studies done to oneself and to

the community and the nature. They must be taught that many of the scientific studies done

benefited mankind and many were done to destroy human civilisation.

Students must be taught of the consequences that will emerge when scientific investigations

are carried out with incorrect procedures. Student must also be highlighted of the danger on theenvironment when the products of scientific research are dumped to the environment. Teachers must

remind students about these issues in the classroom and help students to posses the appropriate

scientific attitudes and values.

Teachers who are creative in designing teaching and learning science in the classroom not

only can attract student interest, but also to inculcate scientific attitudes and values that can guide the

students throughout their life. Science is not a small field, but very wide scope. All knowledge

learned in school that allows students to apply them in their daily lives. For example,

implementation of value on the importance of environmental care will make students more

responsible in protecting and preserving the environment around them.




ROSYIDAH BT IBRAHIM

810809-02-5494

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Bibliography

Carin, A. A. (1993). Teaching science through discovery. New York: Macmillan.

Poh, S. H. (2005). Science pedagogy 2: Science teaching and learning strategy.Kuala Lumpur:

Budiman.

Poh, S. H. (2005). Science pedagogy 3: Science process skills. Kuala Lumpur: Budiman.

Poh, S. H. (2005). Science pedagogy 4: Science resources and laboratory management.Kuala

Lumpur: Budiman.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml

http://www.helium.com/items/1125708-the-application-of-genetic-engineering-designer-

babies?page=2

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