Teaching Strategies Which Foster Curiosity

Techniques for Engaging Inquisitive Students in Science Problems

Sep 17, 2009

Six learning strategies are presented for piquing the curiosity of students as they inquire into and investigate science problems using critical thinking skills.

Teaching strategies which foster curiosity in students encourages their disposition in learning science. When students are intrigued by a new idea or situation and they are compelled to discover new information, then their curiosity is piqued. Teachers are well aware of this sudden change in students; an inquisitive look which appears in their eyes and on their face. The students are alive with curiosity and start asking questions, often hard science questions which require further research.

These teaching strategies entail differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all students within a science class. Techniques for engaging tactile learners involve a hands-on approach, audio learners involve viewing or listening to videos and podcasts which pose problems or issues, and visual learners involve allowing them to observe the effects of science problems or issues. Curiosity is also an essential component that leads to creativity and a heightened state of exploration, excitement, and interest surrounding science issues.

Curiosity Defined: What One Knows and What One Wants to Know

Learning Strategies: Appealing to the Curiosity in Science Students

Most teachers would agree that nurturing curiosity in students is probably easier stated than accomplished. Not all students are highly curious and what might stimulate curiosity in some students might result in anxiety in others. With this in mind, the following are six learning strategies which promote curiosity in students.

Use Curiosity as a Hook – using curiosity as the principle motivator to begin a science lesson by beginning with a thought provoking question or statement.

One example is by beginning a lesson on environmental pollution by stating that – the honey bees are disappearing at an alarming rate and no one knows why.

Present Conceptual Conflict - students experience conceptual conflict when incompatible ideas exist simultaneously in their mind or when information being received does not seem to fit with what they already know. The use of science discrepant events works well for this learning strategy.

One example is when students state that heat rises. However, when a pan of hot water is placed on a table and then removed the table is warm to the touch. In this case the heat went down, not up. Why?

Create an Atmosphere for Questions – students need to feel comfortable about raising questions and have the ability to test their own hypotheses through open discussion and brainstorming sessions.

One example is when open ended probing questions are asked of students regarding how their experimental design procedures will investigate the affects of acid rain on plants. During the discussion, students use critical thinking skills to develop a hypothesis and experimental procedures.

Involve Exploration – encourage students to learn through inquiry based hands-on, minds-on investigation learning strategies in science.

One example is when students design an experiment using online real time data regarding the pH levels of streams around the country, compared to pH data they collect from a local stream.

Provide Choices – provide students with the opportunity to select from several science problems or issues within a specific concept area. Learning strategies which allow the prospect of selecting a topic is intrinsically motivating and will help sustain curiosity.

One example is when students can select a specific problem or issue of their choice regarding global warming. Allow them to choose between shrinking glaciers, shrinking sea ice, plight of the polar bears, effects of El Nino, causes of increasing average air temperature of earth, etc.

Technology Integration – provide students with access to the Internet for research and educational technology tools for developing interactive professional looking presentations.

One example is providing students with a case study about the Chesapeake Bay watershed and pollution. Students use online resources to research factors related to pollution of the bay, along with the effects of the pollution. Students then develop interactive presentations using power point, videos, and interactive websites related to the pollution problem. Students present their findings and recommendations for remedying the problem.

Making Connections: Fostering Curiosity and Teaching Strategies

Teaching strategies which instill curiosity in students encourage a disposition which causes them to ask questions, explore, and be creative when learning science. To ignore these types of learning strategies risks diminishing, if not losing, the endowment of natural curiosity which all students have when they are born.

The copyright of the article Teaching Strategies Which Foster Curiosity in Teacher Tips/Training is owned by David R. Wetzel. Permission to republish Teaching Strategies Which Foster Curiosity in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.