Science department implements hands-on training

Many science teachers and students alike believe that hands-on training helps students develop critical thinking skills and eases the process of understanding difficult properties. Physical labs provide the basic building blocks to prep students for future advancements in their careers.

Campus biology and zoology teacher, Dr. Karen Walters, shares how important labs are to the learning process, and, in the end, benefit the students.

“Students learn by doing,” Walters says. “To appreciate how science works, you need to try experiments and see how they work – or don’t. God’s creation is way too cool to just read about in a text book. He provides us with living, working examples to explore.”

The National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), an association of worldwide professionals committed to the improvement of science and learning through research, believe laboratory experiments are necessary because it allows students to observe and learn through their own thinking process. Laboratory instruction is superior to other methods because of the understanding and appreciation students gain from observation, contact, and manipulation of materials.

Not only does it help students understand easier but it also attracts their interest. Senior Olivia Tandadjaja learns by doing, opposed to seeing. In second period AP Biology Tandadjaja appreciates the understanding the labs provide for her.

“Labs make the text book come alive,” Tandadjaja said. “They help you understand the topic better because you can actually see it. It can get really tiring, reading the book and sometimes you don’t understand, but actually seeing the process happening makes it make sense.”

Freshman Joshua Savage believes the labs keep students and himself interested. The hands on aspect will also prove to be useful in his future.

“I’m a visual learner so seeing it and actually holding it in my hands,” Savage said. “Experiencing it through different ways other than just talking about it, or taking notes is better for me. It’s a different way of teaching and it helps me now and hopefully in the future.”

Walters appreciates the atmosphere Fresno Christian provides for hands-on projects, which makes her enjoy her job even more.

“It (science) is my passion and I am so thankful that FCS supports an experimental-based Science program,” Walters said. “We can also openly explore the wonders of creation while debating and thinking about what the world calls ‘evolution.'”

STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math education, is an educational system in the Unites States that is centered toward integrating a teaching system where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are all intertwined and taught to prepare students K-12 for real world application.

“Labs help students develop techniques that they might use in any kind of technical field,” Walters said. “Let’s just say you’re going into nursing, you’re going to need to know how to measure things with a syringe, or weighing things. They learn how to ask questions and develop a processed answer to that question instead of looking it up on Google. It’s problem solving skills and learning how science solves problems. We can only do that in a lab.”

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @nhudecek16 and via email: Nicole Hudecek.

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