Do you wonder what the world will look like
in the next 30 years to come? Technology is rapidly changing our world. As I
was watching the Google 2012 science fair, I realized that, Africans have put
little effort in learning science to catch up with the western world. Only
Swaziland made it to the finals with a carefully modeled project by two young
boys, that would help poor farmers grow food. How do we talk about that science
is part of our culture now? Science, technology and medicine are the things
that are shaping our lives and the way we live?
Futurist and physicist Micho Kaku predicts
many applications for biotechnology and nano technology. From nanotechnology,
space science, artificial intelligence and human cloning, this leaves most
African countries in a desperate state to catch up with the big giants in the
fields. This reminds us to evaluate our science teachings in class that inorder
not to drive the young science pursuers out of class. Science and technology
teaching in class is changing rapidly in a desperate attempt to have more students
take up science careers because that is the core of a country’s economy.
Science in class should be more engaging for the students than being receivers
and at any level, students should be introduced to research methods and how to
do work on their own, outside that, I think the rest is dogma.
The ICT sector has proved itself to be
capable to push us to greater heights through numerous software developments
and the use of internet based programs. But little has been done to teach our
students the under-laying principles of this technology, which means, we shall
still rely on imported technology. The
biggest question of all is, how do we keep learners in science classrooms?
I bet you have come across phrases like,
“sciences are hard,” “why do you study such maths like calculus that we won’t
apply anywhere in life?” or that science is boring and many more myths and
negative comments about maths and other science subjects. Truth be told, these
disciplines need a little more hard work put in at school but they can, as
other arts subjects, be studied and understood as well as passed. And it
becomes worse when scientific concepts themselves are taught out of context to
the students. Most of all, these students have no idea why studying science,
technology and medicine is important and how to succeed from it. It is not a
matter of saying, “work hard or read harder”. Sometimes you do not need to go
to class to become a great scientist. Albert Einstein said, “Most people think that genius is the
primary determinant of intellectual achievement. Yet the all-time greatest
thinkers had in common, not inexplicable genius, but a questioning mind. Their
intellectual skills and inquisitive drive embodied the essence of critical
thinking. Through skilled deep and persistent questioning they redesigned our
view of the physical world and the universe.” Here I introduce
some of the “commandments’ for being a successful scientist;
1.
Should have curiosity
2.
Learn how to ask questions
3.
Your imagination and ideas is a great asset
4.
You need to work as a team and collaborations
5.
You need to know some history of and about science and how to do
research
6.
Find a hobby in a science activity
7.
Passion and hard work
8.
Never give up but just change how you think about a problem
Most of the students fail at number 7. In
science, we do not have failure, we just have wrong methods. So all you have to
do is to change the method until you get the right answer. Like Albert Einstein
said, you cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it. I have
come to believe that, a scientifically illiterate person might have difficulty
finding a place in the future of this planet. We should put a lot of effort in
classroom science, find an effective way of changing how children think.
James kamugisha ndahiro
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