Instructional Approach using Genres Based on Science in developing Scientific Creativity of Upper Primary Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session (Tuesday II)
  In Refereed Round-Table Session: Conflict, higher education, and socio-emotional learning

Proposal

The study focused on the importance of an effective method of teaching and learning that fosters scientific creativity of students. Scientific knowledge is created from the human imagination and logical reasoning. It is a universally acknowledged fact that the progress of any nation depends mainly on the utilisation of potential of its intellectually gifted and creatively talented individuals to the maximum. Even though creativity is innate, it needs to be cultivated. In taxonomies of educational objectives create is the highest level of the hierarchy. The entire educational system is responsible to produce active and creative generation with thinking ability. Creatively thinking generation is the treasure of a nation. Genres based on science instead of traditional techniques will help to enhance divergent thinking of students and they also gain a better understanding.
This study will highlight the findings from a research project completed in Kerala, a state in South west India. A group of 98 students in 6th grade class was selected for the study..
Genres like science fiction, animation, stories, drama etc were used for the purpose in the present study. Experimental method was conducted for a sample of 96 upper primary students –the rising generation, 48 each in experimental and control group. A lesson package was developed which encompassed 15 different activities with specific aim and objectives. The activities included different poems, animation songs about planets and sun, brain games like hot seat, problem based interaction,passing the ball with concepts related to ecosystem, and solar system, alliteration using ecosystem and solar system themes etc. Experimental group was taught with Genres based on science and control group followed activity oriented method (routine method followed in Indian schools). The parallel forms of scientific creativity tests were developed and administered to both experimental and control group before (test A) and after (test B) the treatment.. The experimental treatment was given for a duration of one month.. The data was gathered, scored and classified and analysed using ANCOVA and critical ratio. Findings revealed that genres based technique to teach science instead of traditional methods helped enhance divergent thinking and better understanding among upper primary students. New instructional strategy using genres based on science is found more effective in developing scientific creativity of students as a whole and also fluency, flexibility and originality of scientific creativity independently. The Fy.x is computed for scientific creativity as a whole and its components separately. Fy.x for components of Scientific creativity like fluency, flexibility and originality are 6.92, 6.92 and 8.71 with t values 13.7, 2.98 and 3.54 respectively revealed the effectiveness of instructional strategy based on science based genres on components of scientific creativity. Fy.x for scientific creativity as a whole is 3.95 for df 1/96 with t value 2.07 also indicated the effectiveness of new instructional strategy. These findings were supported by Hsiao(2014) and Winrich (2014) found that new instructional approaches and interventions will enhance creative thinking ability of children and also the study by Prompan (2007) on the effectiveness of WEB-based instructional model based on Brain-Based learning process on students’ creativity.
Several strategies and techniques have been adopted by teachers to develop cognitive abilities of students. But these are not sufficient to create a suitable thinking environment for developing creatively talented as well as scientifically literate students. A flexible, broad and balanced curriculum that provide opportunity to explore, reflect, imagine, discover and less dependent on teachers. The teacher’s role should be transformed to enable the learners to look a concept/topic/situations/in different perspectives. The teaching learning environment should be a blended one with dance, music, fictions, narrations, stories, poems etc according to the learning styles and hemisphericity of the brain of the target group under concern. The new instructional package provide an opportunity for deep investigation of challenging concepts and engage them rather than superficial treatment of many topics that creates apathy. It will provide an opportunity to apply different range of strategies for addressing a puzzle. This will make pupil flexible enough to switch over to different approaches and also develop their willingness to work and think beyond comfort zone.
“When I examined myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.”
-Einstein (www.wisdom quotes)
These words of famous Scientist should be an eye-opener to what is really needed and what is missing in the existing system. Right education helps building peace of mind and thereby develops sustainable society that empowers people to change their way of thinking and working towards a sustainable future. Budding generation is really the backbone of a nation. It is nation’s responsibility to mould them to take responsible actions, resolve challenges and contribute their own to create a sustainable world.

Authors

• asha rani kamalamma, Periyar Tiger Reserve

• martin babu Panackal, St. Joseph Academy and higher education and research