Doing a Good Job in Science Education and Improving the Level of Science Education (Deep Reading) for Adolescents | Science | Level

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General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to do a good job in the addition of science education in the "double reduction" of education, stimulate young people's curiosity, imagination, and desire to explore, and cultivate young people who have the potential of scientists and are willing to devote themselves to scientific research.

"Tiangong Classroom" and "Science Class in Science Museum" sow the seeds of science in children's hearts; A group of backbone teachers from primary and secondary schools have entered research institutes to participate in training classes, improving the level of science education and teaching... Nowadays, science education has been integrated into various stages of basic education, becoming a "fundamental curriculum" that helps students develop comprehensively and healthily.

How to cultivate a fertile ground for early cultivation of innovative talents and narrow the gap in science education between urban and rural areas? What positive explorations have been made since the release of the new curriculum standard for science education over a year ago? Our reporter conducted an interview.

Emphasize the cultivation of thinking——

Scientific arrangement of advanced courses

Integrating the scientific education system

"Why are the phoenix flowers grown in the classroom so sickly?" In the classroom of Class 2, Grade 4 of Beijing University of Science and Technology Affiliated Primary School, science teacher Feng Xinxin did not directly provide an answer to the questions raised by the students.

"Is it because there isn't enough sunlight?" "Should we water more?" "Is it because there are no earthworms in the soil?"... Under the guidance of the teacher, the students discussed enthusiastically. Subsequently, the students moved the Impatiens to the outdoors, preparing to continuously observe the growth and changes of the Impatiens, explore the environmental conditions required for plant growth, and cultivate scientific exploration interest and thinking ability.

"An interesting science class that only stays in the classroom is not enough, it needs to be expanded according to students' interests." Feng Xinxin said, "Stimulating children's curiosity, imagination, and curiosity is the key. We should guide children to practice more, experience the process and methods of scientific research in practice, pay attention to thinking cultivation, and improve scientific literacy."

Doing well in scientific education addition in the "double reduction" of education is not a simple math problem, but a transformation and upgrading of educational concepts. In March 2022, the "Compulsory Education Science Curriculum Standards" were released, which clearly stated that the goal of science curriculum is to cultivate students' core literacy, mainly including four aspects: scientific concepts, scientific thinking, exploratory practice, and attitude responsibility. At the same time, the new curriculum standard has streamlined the course content. Compared with the 2017 version of the curriculum standard, the core concepts have been reduced from 18 to 13, the learning content has been reduced from 75 to 54, and the learning objectives have been reduced from 207 to 161.

Liu Jianling, the principal of Beijing University of Science and Technology Affiliated Primary School, introduced that the school has built basic, developmental, expansive, and innovative science courses based on the differences in academic stages, student characteristics, and training objectives. "The four types of courses each have their own emphasis, with content ranging from knowledge understanding to practical application, forming an orderly and progressive curriculum structure that helps students cultivate basic scientific abilities and cultivate a good scientific attitude."

In the 101 Mathematics Laboratory of the Experimental Building of the Natural Science Basic Experimental Center at Beijing University of Science and Technology, students from the Affiliated Primary School of the University of Science and Technology experienced experimental projects such as intelligent voice control small fans under the guidance of teachers. During after-school service hours, the "AI Intelligence Class" jointly offered by the Affiliated Primary School of the University of Science and Technology and Beijing University of Science and Technology was welcomed by students and parents.

It is reported that Beijing University of Science and Technology Affiliated Primary School is closely collaborating with Beijing University of Science and Technology to explore an integrated training model for science education in primary, secondary, and tertiary schools. Beijing University of Science and Technology teachers can offer science courses in affiliated primary schools, and science classrooms for students in affiliated primary schools are also integrated into university campuses. The teacher teams of the two schools will also jointly develop science teaching resources and produce science teaching aids. "Big hands holding small hands", sharing high-quality educational resources.

Interdisciplinary integration——

Collaborative education within and outside the school

Interdisciplinary integration teaching

With the successful launch of the Mengtian experimental module of the Chinese space station under the support of the Long March 5B carrier rocket, a science class on aerospace themes began simultaneously at the Guangxi Science and Technology Museum.

"Where does the power of the space station come from?" "How do astronauts communicate in space?" "How does the space station achieve water purification?" The students of Tiantao Experimental School in Nanning watched the live video carefully, listened attentively to scientific knowledge explanations, and conducted scientific experiments under the guidance of engineers.

The science courses in the Science and Technology Museum are a microcosm of Tiantao Experimental School's exploration of "technology+" teaching practice.

"With the support of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Association for Science and Technology, we have closely collaborated with various science and technology museums to form an education model where science classrooms have no boundaries, science teachers have no boundaries, and learning methods have no boundaries." said Zou Nanyong, the principal of Tiantao Experimental School Education Group. In the cooperation between museums and schools, the school has expanded high-quality science education resources, formed collaborative education capabilities, and alleviated the gap in the number and quality of science teachers.

The new curriculum standard proposes four interdisciplinary concepts in terms of course content: matter and energy, structure and function, systems and models, and stability and change. Hu Weiping, the leader of the revision group for compulsory education science curriculum standards, believes that science courses belong to comprehensive courses. One of the major breakthroughs in the new curriculum standards is the adjustment of the curriculum structure, which requires the understanding of interdisciplinary core concepts through the learning of disciplinary core concepts.

"We encourage teachers to carry out interdisciplinary themed teaching and strengthen the collaborative education function of the curriculum," said Li Wei, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office of the Yinshan Campus of Tiantao Experimental School Education Group. "In Chinese class, teachers will explain the principles of railway design in conjunction with the text 'Zhan Tianyou'; in art class, teachers will guide students to take photos of the bridge in their hometown; in science class, teachers will explain mechanics knowledge by 'building a bridge'."

At present, Tiantao Experimental School has established the Nanning Tiantao Experimental School Education Group Science and Technology Association. The next step is to hold science or technology festivals at different levels in the group schools, gradually promoting the establishment of interest groups and clubs, organizing science and technology competitions, and exploring more scientific education experiences.

Strong advantages to supplement weaknesses——

Encourage rural students to practice

Strengthen the construction of the teaching staff

"If a smart seat could be invented to correct sitting posture, it would better protect the eyes of students." Zheng Yixuan, a fifth grade student at Xinmin Primary School in Dianjiang County, Chongqing, told science teacher Chen Liwen about his idea.

Upon understanding the students' thoughts, the science teacher immediately encouraged Zheng Yixuan to try and turn "little thoughts" into "inventions" step by step. In the end, the "Student Intelligent Seat" won the second prize in the primary school group of the robot creative project at the 38th Chongqing Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition.

"As a rural school, it is not easy for teachers and students to win multiple awards in science and technology competitions through scientific and technological projects." Chen Junquan, Secretary of the Party Branch of Xinmin Primary School, introduced that the school has been conducting science education for more than 10 years, and many students' curiosity, imagination, and curiosity have been stimulated.

Having a good science class, a good environment is important, and a good teacher is even more important. It is reported that in order to improve the construction of the science teacher team, Xinmin Primary School has taken multiple measures to encourage backbone teachers to "pass on and guide", and tilt towards excellent science teachers in terms of professional title evaluation and advanced evaluation.

If resources are limited, try to introduce new resources. Xinmin Elementary School is located in rural areas, and the surrounding grape, watermelon, and dragon fruit plantations have become characteristic science classrooms. "The school actively guides families, communities, and research institutions to join, fully utilizes local resources, and carefully designs and carries out rich and colorful after-school service activities." Chen Junquan introduced that now the school has a scientific investigation team and a science and technology interest group, and students' scientific education practice is becoming increasingly rich.