Science Teacher Training
in an Information Society
Teaching about energy
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Science Teacher Training
in an Information Society |
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Workshop 1
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StoriesA It is very important that what we teach to children is scientifically accurate and correct. We should not be teaching anything to pupils which we later have to tell them is wrong. Since this energy transfer approach is correct and forms of energy are not, then I’m certainly committed to doing it this way. I don’t see a problem in making sure the department implements it in every topic immediately.
B I don’t think that there is just one way of thinking about science, and I don’t think that there is a unique way of developing scientific concepts. I can’t see anything wrong in talking about a concept in one way with younger pupils and then later on saying that there is another more sophisticated way of looking at things. That’s not to say that the earlier version was wrong, just different.
C We are legally obliged to teach what is in the National Curriculum, and so I can’t see that there is really any debate about it. I’m not an expert on energy, and I don’t really know which is the best approach. But lots of experts have had an input into the National Curriculum, and it quite clearly states that we have to teach about energy transfers, so I guess that is what we have to do.
D I think that as professionals we have to exercise some judgement over how we interpret the National Curriculum. We need to teach in ways which we think are best for our pupils. When I am teaching about energy I pay much more attention to what is in the SATs tests than what is in the National Curriculum. At the end of the day, it is how they perform on the tests which is what is important for the pupils.
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