The Concept of Science Fair and Its Importance on Science Education

The concept of science fair has been come downtopics.
to us from European education pattern and theirIn delivering lecture on the topics of science, there
growth of culture. They firstly thought " Scienceare limitations, which may create hindrance to
fair must be based on creativity by cultivatinglearning on the part of the students. Sometimes
knowledge and intelligence of the learners". Indeed,the lecture may be monotonous and boring due
science fair needs to be introduced in differentto continuous saying and without emphasising
educational institutions by considering itspractical orientation and presentation on the
pedagogical phenomena based on practicalapplicability of science and technology. If there
knowledge and skills. Hence, there is no alternateexists dryness amongst the students, the teacher
of practical knowledge to gain proper education inshould change the policy of his lecture. He should
the field of Science and Technology and henceask open-ended questions. Open ended questions
the steps for science fair is needed as a taken ofhelp get the students involved. Assuming to know
creativity and awareness for acquiring knowledgea particular thing, one may get interested if he is
among the students. Hence, the steps for scienceintended to know those particular items. In many
fair in the educational institute are ideallycases, it is found that the teachers are not well
envisaged and contemporary.experienced and they have no meaningful learning
In our country, every year science fair is held inexperience to show the actual answer of the
different educational institute annually to createproblem and the topics. Even, without sufficient
motivation of research work and enthusiasm. Theskills and knowledge, they are appointed as
teachers first collect the names and list them thatteacher which is totally insignificant. Some of the
they will create a project based on science andlimitations of delivering a lecture are as follows:
technology. The students who are found To ask question for 'Yes'/ No answer.
interested to introduce a new science work take Not to ask open ended question to get people
a challenge and become capable of showing ainvolved.
different creative work. He selects a project and Not to use agitated words
thinks over the work and the nature of Not to say repeatedly while delivering lecture
technology behind it. Actually, he becomes Not to ask meaningful questions
responsible of inventing something like a scientist. To ask several question at a time
So, it is found off and on that the students are Not to give feedback on answers yourself, or
being able to show a nice presentation in scienceinvolve others
fair. He sometimes shows something different Not to give people a chance to absorb the
from modern age. They can project from ancientquestion and answer it.
and mediaeval age. Not to welcome answers
The authority of different schools and colleges To be critical in answering and asking
arrange science fair in order to show thequestions.
eagerness of actual knowledge and skills amongAn ideal science teacher needs to be well
the students. At this, a congenial atmosphere isconversant about using the language. It is
developed in the institution because, they areindispensable to create awareness and congenial
concerning their heads about new inventions andatmosphere on the part of a teacher. The
discovery and they become conscious offollowing are the different ways to improve
awakening their ideas and thoughts. In thelecture.
context of Bangladesh, every year different To manage intersperse lecture with
schools and colleges arrange science fair. Theyopportunities to challenge and discuss what is
first invite names from the interested studentsbeing delivered. In case of critical problem, he
who are willing to make the project work and toneeds to synchronise and simplify it so that the
focus it in the science fair. They, like the scientistsactual topics become easy and understandable.
carry on research work like making law, To break the students into groups for
hypothesis and theory. They seek respectiveexercises which develop lecture themes and need
ideas from different books and the achievementto be reported back and analysed. Specifically, in
of scientists of the world. At last they presentpresenting nuclear and magnetic topics, he needs
their creativity and thus a systematic project isto show it with necessary apparatus and relevant
reflected.calculations.
Arranging science fair is a significant step of To use case studies, which challenge students
different educational institutions through which anto apply the teaching, they are being given.
intensified effort is led to flourish and enrich theNormally, chapter wise topics are needed to
knowledge and skills on application of science fordiversify to present the topics on practical
the students. It is hoped in future that the stepsthemes and critics.
to arrange science fair is a predominating criteria To use Video record teaching sessions and
to strengthen the cultivation of knowledge inanalyse progress and results.
applying the definitive sense of technical know- To use role-plays to demonstrate examples
how of science. A science fair is quite differentof what is said in lectures.
from other fairs existing in our country like a To split into teams which analyse the days
village fair and an industrial fair and so on. Theselecture theme and give a resume of it on same /
fairs serve the purpose of the business wherenext day.
the commodities of qualitative nature are sold and To be prepared to facilitate and contribute to
displayed for making profit in question. Here, thediscussions and help groups prepare feedback.
commodities are served in the market in such a To develop feedback techniques on what a
manner, where the companies good will and theteacher observes groups doing.
nature and quality of product are vividly disclosed Self will agent
so that the people are much attracted toRegarding the teaching method, the following are
purchase it to a great extent. Besides this, inimportant to apply in teaching the students
organizing science fair, the business importance isvirtually.
not treated as the prime factor; rather the Telling is not teaching
pedagogical manifestation to gear up the intensity Age is not a bar to learn
and potentiality of the students is given priority. Meaningful learning experience
Actually, the eagerness for knowing the unknown Voice, image and body use
world is reflected and a better environment is Practically oriented way of teaching
flourished among the students in any educational Repeat, Recap and Review
institute where science and technology are studied Mnemonics
extensively. Even though, there has been Visual Hearing and Feeling and F-ULLER
provided a wide range to the students inIn view of the above, a good teacher selects any
European countries for creating a broad basedmethod to teach the students but according to
project as a part of their education. The studentsFranchise Bacon, most of the good teachers
who are found attracted for learning technologicalselect the sixth Rule of teaching that is ' Repeat,
skills and knowledge generally shines in life byRecap, Review ' which is the most important one
contributing a lot in the field of education. Forto make the teaching vitally effective, meaningful,
science fair, the following things are important:fruitful and up to the mark
• Environment: Like western country,The reasons in support of the argument are
appropriate environment is needed wherestated as follows.
necessary equipment will play a vital role. In manyRepeat: According to Franchise Bacon, 'when you
cases, only theoretical teachings are offeredtell something in the class to a group of students,
beside practical knowledge and skills. It is a matterit is only a saying but when you recapitulate it,
of great regret that the students are deprived ofrepeat it and ask the question on the progress, it
gaining actual knowledge in the relevant field.will be interacted and if you further emphasize the
Besides this, technological instruments need to beconcept, they will be conversant with the relevant
placed in different institutions so that the utilizationknowledge'. Indeed, incase of delivering an
of those equipment are properly made in aimportant message, if it is stated once-only 10%
systematic manner.will be memorized but if it is stated 6 times then
• Knowledge and skills relating to science fair:90% are memorized after one year. So,
The teacher should select a number of topicsreiteration/repetition is the most important tools
before allocating on the project work to thefor the teaching to make the topics
students and they should give knowledge on therememberable. If the message is not
steps of spreading and analyzing the topics inremembered and understandable then the whole
question. He should engage himself in creatingthing will be treated as useless.
awareness and necessary skills in the field of theRecap: It is generally meant by recap to go over
application of mathematical model of scienceagain the vital point of the relevant contents.
based on constructive exploration of modernUsing FULLE-R and VHF for better memorization
appliances. The teacher should set problems oncan do the recap. As the first events are best
real life situation like building a model of thememorized so to start with big message.
relevant topics. The problems must be based onThereafter unusual event like cartoon, exercise
practically oriented which set forth the topicsetc. be used. Thirdly, linked event, here
covering science and its technological aspects ofmnemonics or analogy can be used and lastly to
nature. Assuming in a teaching classroom, onend with big messages of fascination towards the
Modern and electronic physics is going on. Thetopics. In this context, summing up the ideas to
students are feeling boring because the teacherarrive the conclusion that is the gist in question to
was not well dressed and well rested. Rather hebe communicated to the students as a good
has arrived late and he has not greeted them.communicator of the teaching course. We should
Some students do not understand his lecture. Heremember one thing that ' Telling is not teaching;
is running fast. He is not identifying and helping thewe need to make teaching active and interesting;
less able students. In this case, despite his soundget students involved; see it from the student's
knowledge in the relevant field of modern physics,view; we should use VHF and FULL-R. According
he may not be treated as a good teacher. Henryto Commoneus, a famous educationist, for an
Fayol defines a teacher as an active student ofeffective teaching, 'only lecture is immaterial but in
the students who can play very much attractiveorder to ornament it for better memorization,
and fascinate role upon overall performances inideal approach, demonstration, visual display and
the class. An ideal teacher needs to play a vitalvarieties of attractions of the students are
role in active advisor among the students. Heneeded'
needs to be careful about the criteria on Control,Review: A proverb always goes like ' To err is
Guide, Consult and Facilitate. He should havehuman'. It is human nature to forget the things
meaningful learning experience with which he canmessage, which is not reviewed that are we
produce constructive and mathematicallosing what we don't review. To review we are to
presentation for creating awareness for teachingregularly sum up where we have reached and
in a significant manner.invited questions.
Being a science teacher, his attitude may varyAt the end of every topics if the teacher
according to the nature of the students' subjectrepeats, recap and review, ask questions and help
area and to substantiate the actual skills. He needsthem to answer properly, the trainees will be
to be very careful in using his voice for effectivemore motivated and conversant with the
teaching. In our country, in many cases, thesubjects and grasp it properly so that teaching will
parents regarding performance of the teacherbe effective and fruitful.
lodge complaints. A good teacher need not beIn view of the above, it is obvious that the role
excited and agitated towards the students. Heof teachers for science education cannot be
should give chance to ask question to theignored. The expansion of science fair is inevitable
students so that transfer of behaviour is madein the domain of practical oriented type of
possible in a significant manner. According toteachings where a student will achieve proper
Franchise Bacon, there are two types of learning:knowledge in creating constructive project work
One is Pedagogy- children's learning and the otherthat will be ultimately helpful for the country. If
is Andragoggy- Adult learning. In case of adultthe educational institutions emphasise technological
learning, we cannot teach anybody, we only helpaspects on science, the integrity to work in the
him or her to learn. So in the case of using ourfield of science and its application of science fair
voice we need to be responsible and tactful.will be enhanced intensively. As a result the
That is to say, a teacher's behaviour will be incountry will be much benefited in due sense of
such, which must attract the students fortechnology.
effective and efficient delivery of the relevant