Course assignment – Reflection 2

In the first section of this week’s reading discussed everyday settings and family activities that involve science. Pointing out an important fact that learning takes place in multiple settings. This is especially important in science learning that, I personally feel, needs to be experienced more than taught. Another important aspect of the beginning of this section is a fact that science learning can be a family experience. Going back to my last blog I remember this being true in my life. I feel that my family gave me a legacy in the love of science. But it also commented about how science can be experienced in multiple settings with young and old alike. One of the things that I got out of this first part was in the section titled, Setting For Everyday Learning, pointed out some facts I never thought about how family learning activities involving science can be everyday activities such as fishing, gardening are great to other activities. These activities often can involve spontaneous informal science experiences. Also I found interesting the section of chapter 4 were stranded 4, reflecting on science, where Sandoval was quoted in regards to the four aspects of science that students have difficulty in understanding. It discusses how they believe that science is constructed by people rather than its people interpreting evidence. Students often don’t see science as it dynamic and changing subject that often what is believed to be true one day can be disproved the next. Also students think of science is being experiments without understanding all of the different methodology involved in science. And finally the last concept is it many students see hypothesis, theory, and law being sequenced in this order. The next chapter titled, Science Learning in Designed Settings, it’s much closer to home in regards to our project. I have decided to do my project at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson desalinization plant off of Montana. I’m in the process in developing a combination of a tour of the plant with explanation of the procedure as well as introducing information in regards to water conservation. This section gave me important things to think about in developing my project. The very end of the section on Strand one talks about comfort which I never thought about having an effect on learning in an informal environment which really makes sense because it’s important informal environment as well. In discussing Strand 3 in this chapter made me think of the importance of creating an interactive educational experience as well as understanding the importance of meaning – making which is making the experience personal to the participant. Participants are involved in doing and saying, questioning and explaining making sense of the natural world. When it came to Strand 5 I found interesting the concept of social interaction and learning multigenerational groups because I believe it builds strong bonds and increase the learning experience for all generations. The last chapter we covered is titled, Programs for Young and Old, which discusses the difference between formal and out of class science learning programs. In this discussion and told about two different points of view of researchers in regards to the program goals and outcomes. Where one group is more concerned with development of positive attitude, skills and social relationships while the others are more concerned with the academic outcome but I personally feel both have equal importance.