Motivational schedule for teaching Life Science topic Microorganisms in VI th grade.

Background

In science education, teaching methods favor rote learning and memorization. As a result, many science students view science as boring, distant, and demanding. Creative curriculum-based hands-on activities can be a motivation for the science classroom. Creative activities can be exciting and fun. It can make science more accessible for students in a control-free, risk-free environment. Furthermore, creative products can show creativity. Creativity is usually seen in the arts and art products, but it can also be observed in the sciences. A science creative product requires conceptual understanding of science, therefore; a natural link is made between creative products and conceptual understanding in science. Recent literature in science education indicates that there is a relationship between motivation, cognitive engagement, and conceptual change. Motivation involves an individual’s choice to engage or not to engage in an activity, persistence in the activity, intensity throughout the activity, and results in an increase in the quality of the activity. Thus, motivation should be central in the development of any sound educational programs. It is predicted that creative, curriculum-based, hands-on activities will have an impact on students’ motivation and interest in science learning. Through these creative activities (i.e context specific), students’ goal orientation will increase and result in more effort and interest in the subject domain. Finally, this increased effort and interest will positively influence students’ conceptual understanding of science and promote more positive attitudes towards science concepts and its application. The creative activities are viewed as a motivational tool, a specific type of task, which have an impact on student goals.

Creating motivation within the science classroom can be challenging but is necessary for learning.

Following points were followed by the teacher to teach the concept of Unicellular organisms to Class VIth group.

1. Properly introducing the unit – The teacher introduces the topic of “Microorganisms” properly by laying necessary emphasis on its need and importance. Prior knowledge of the students is tested and the topic is related with day to day life and environmental surrounding of the students. Questions coaxing interest were popped amongst the students like :

Question 1. What turns the milk kept overnight to curd the next day. Everyone’s mother does it for you ?Question 2 . How does your favourite dish smell when cooked and served ?Question 3 . How would it smell if I keep it outside for three days? Why?

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

2. Creating curiosity amongst the students by creative means was planned. Example as follows : My dear students, the topic that we would take up today is so interesting and touches our daily life so lend me your Ears compeletely. I would take up few cards and show you some pictures. Tell me if you have ever seen them in your life because they are always around clinging on everything. Teacher shows flash cards as below:

SALMONELLA

PENICILIUM

VIRUSi CHLAMYDOMONAS

3. Different instructional strategies or motivation tools such as cooperative learning strategies and inquiry-based learning to engage students, hoping to promote interest and increase the students’ effort in learning the material is followed. Numerous examples from real life situations were taken up and discussed with the children to make them understand the presence of microorganisms.

4. A very creative Quiz was prepared for the students to locate the presence of microorganisms in our surroundings witnessing increased student participation. Two very colourful pictorial quizes was prepared wherein students were made to brainstorm presence of microorganisms in the surrounding.

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

QUIZ NO. 1

QUIZ NO. 2

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

5. Other creative ideas can be attempted such as most teachers feel that the classroom should be an inviting, interesting and welcoming place for all students. Most felt that if the classroom was inviting the students would be motivated to come to class. So appropriately colourful flashcards , charts / audiovisuals can be organized related to the subject. Example following flash cards are prepared :

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

6. Finally a visit to the Science Museum in Sector-10, Chandigarh was organized which has a cyclorama display presenting the evolution of life from the unicellular organism to its present state of biological diversity.

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)

The Impact of Creative Activities and Motivational schedule:

Overall, students were interested and enjoyed the creative curriculum-based activities. They were more engaged in their learning process and made many comments that the activities were “fun” and “exciting.” Motivational goal orientations, in particular, learning goal (for the task) did increase. Part of the motivating features of the creative imaginative activities outlined in this study was the risk-free and control free approach taken. The use of creative activities did lend to a constructive approach within the classroom. Teaching continues to inspire the students and continues to motivate them to achieve at the highest levels. It’s wise to remember that all students are motivated. Some students aren’t motivated to do what we want, so motivating middle school students can be fun, challenging and frustrating. To motivate students effectively teachers need to stay positive and creative in their methods of teaching. Middle school is a time when our students are given more responsibility and choices. These students are also in a continual growing and maturing stage of their lives. They are beginning to practice more decision-making skills.

It is my belief that what separates a good teacher from a great teacher is the skill to build the confidence in our students, to look past their fears and background, and build the skills that develop a student into a life-long learner.

“Engaging curriculum has to be taught in an inviting environment, actively involving students.” “Students need to delight in what they discover!”

SUBMITTED TO : NEERAJ MAM PREPARED BY : RASHMI NEGI ( ROLL No . – 181)