task 2
Challenging in teaching biology ... a lot, Biology is an easy subject and yet many not score A .. Why ? Boys dislike reading, thinking and long lecture. Physilogical processes( e.g : electrochemical events in nervous system) and Biochemical processes ( e.g : photosynthesis ) are long processes with many steps, it takes place in the cells, many enzymes and chemicals/ions involved. So, of course the explanation are long and many steps. Beside biology, I must also good in certain area of chemistry and physics. In the class with those boys or girls, everytime, I have to plan very well and be creative enough, in order to make them awake during class, follow the class, participate and can answer the conceptual questions at the end of the class. A long processes should be break into shorter processes, to make it looks easier. students awake and enjoy much, if teacher elaborates step by step on the board, using the best simplified diagrams or mind map, pause many times asking questions ( base on my personal experience). At the end of the topic, combine all the compartments together and show the overview. Then only show the animation using biology interactive coursewares, before giving them worksheets. Teacher must answer the essay question together with them, practice the systematic way of answering and emphasis on the usage of keywords in answers.
I love teaching biology so much, always want my students understand well in every issues and score better grades. Of course I share the knowledge and skill with another bio teachers in school, and once, I've shared with all bio teachers in KL during PPSMI courses in 2003.
6 comments:
good Nani. Yes Biology is a challenging subject. Your method of delivering the lesson will make it easier for weaker students to understand the processes involved.
I agree with Pramela, Nani methods of teaching benefits the weak students but we can also let the students come up with their own mind mapping at the end of the lesson and let them show and explain it to the class.My students came up with interesting power point presentation and every group was eager to present their powerpoint.
I like your ideas Nani. I still remember my Form 5 Biology teacher. She was so terribly boring. She would read from the text and made us underlined chunks of text so I never liked biology. The problem I had in Biology was memorising the immense amount information in the biology book. Could anybody suggest a way that can be done interactively, interesting and of course easily?
Dear nani, isn't it strange that at an age when our students both boys and girls are so fascinated with each other biologically they are not interested in biology and find it so difficult. My 16 year old daughter loves watching programmes like America's next top model and is so obsessed with her flat abs etc. etc. and yet doesn't like biology at all. She says her teacher doesn't make it interesting at all. What you are doing does look systematic and should help make the knowledge accessible to the students. My query is how do you know they are comprehending the various processes and how do you know they actually understand at the end of the topic?
TQ Dr Radha. How do we know students are comprehending... and understand at the end of the topic ?
For biological processes, to make it clear,
I always draw the overall view of the process, explain backward together with students. Let them answer the questions, try not to give the answers. Use 4W1H questions, simple and direct. Make sure each student has opportunity answering the questions in the activity.
e.g :
Statement 1 : replication of DNA
Q1 : name the products?
Q2 : why 2 daughter strands produced ?
Q3 : Where it takes place ?
Q4 : When it happens ?
Q5 : What is the purpose ?
Q6 : State 2 important enzymes involved ?
Q7 : How many steps in volved in the process?
Q8 : describe Step 1; step 2; step 3 etc.
Of course, after that, teacher should combine all the information, slowly/systematically explain step by step right from the beginning until end. Encourage them practice : read, listen, write and read again. Then, answer the popular questions.
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