The Use of History of Science as a Cultural Tool to
Promote Students’ Empathy with the Culture of Science
Synopsis
This article was about a study where they specifically watched the effects of empathy on twenty one 9th grade students on their science learning experience. Empathy comes in to play when the teacher introduces the "culture of science", which allows the students to see an in-depth look of "how science works and what scientists do". The author makes a comparison to when students are learning about traditions or the way of life in another culture it is extremely hard for them to understand because it is nothing like their own. The students will understand more of the culture if they take a deeper look in to the lives of the people and are able to make personal connections to their own lives. The study was put in place to prove that when one introduces the culture of science it allows the students to feel a more personal connection to the content as well as creating a deeper understanding. Students do not truly understand what scientists do or the time period in which they reside, so they do not have any respect for the work they have done and why it is important to be learning.
Guney, B., & Seker, H. (n.d.). The use of history of science as a cultural tool to promote students’ empathy with the culture of science. Educational Science Theory & Practice, Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy.kennesaw.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a64c5e1d-d6ea-45d7-a981-353d770ae334@sessionmgr13&vid=6&hid=17
Reflection
This was a great study, and one, actually, I wish I had been a part of when I was learning physics. It is brilliant to teach students about the history of the content they are learning, rather than simply teaching them algorithms or facts. We have been taught to teach our students in a way where they can make personal connections, but I never would have thought to teach them the history of science and of the scientist. However, it makes perfect since because the more the students can connect to their own lives, the more likely they are going to remember the content they are learning.
Krista,
ReplyDeleteThis does seem like a very interesting study and one that would be fun to be a part of. When we teach, we try to not just teach the content, but also the why, as in why students need to know this. It would also be good to teach students the history so they can have a better understanding of all that happened in order for students to have this information to learn. The more students can connect something to their personal lives, the better chance they will have of remembering it and being able to apply it.