A Stepping Stone in the Pathway of Life

Kevin Vande Vusse

Science exists, is happening all around us, and we are connected to it in some way.
Whether it be a caterpillar metamorphosing into a brilliant monarch butterfly; a chemical
reaction between light, carbon dioxide, and water; or just lifting a box from the floor onto a
table. All of these are phenomena representing science; all of these are happening in the real
world, regardless of what we think or do. Science education is an opportunity to inspire
students. I can do this by encouraging them to observe, respecting their ideas surrounding
concepts, and engaging them actively in the community.
The real world, the world that exists outside the classroom walls, is where our students
are coming from and where they are going. If we lose sight of what is happening outside of the
classroom, we lose a sense of meaning in science education. Taking the real, physical, natural
phenomena and placing it directly in front of the students can not only increase engagement
with a topic, but also develop a sense of wonder within them. My science teaching focuses on
the big picture, guiding students to think deeply and critically on overarching concepts.
Learning goals can be met through multiple avenues of teaching; avenues that can grow and
adapt to student needs.
Education is a process, taking time to grow and develop. As teachers at different grade
levels we are a part of a long chain, a stepping stone in the pathway of life for each student.
Within our small link in the process, only a snap-shot of the whole is seen. Developing a
positive classroom culture, where learning and growth is a collaborative process, can produce
excitement and desire to take the next step along the path. We are partners in discovery
alongside our students, responsible to guide them along the path of learning. By taking
students seriously and linking scientific concepts with their own lives in the real world, we can
develop respect for one another, leading them through the snap-shot of time we have
together.
Through guided inquiry and problem solving, students are trained to think critically and
develop their own meaning and learning towards a concept. Through exploration and
experience of phenomena, students have the opportunity to develop not just knowledge of
scientific concepts, but a genuine understanding as well. Textbooks and learning standards are
guides, directing and pointing inquiry and lesson planning in the right direction.
As educators, we are responsible for teaching the next generation. We need to treat
our students with respect and always remember that they are the future. Let us not forget our
role, for we are only a small part of the long process of education.
Science education is an opportunity to have fun. Exploring the local stream for
macroinvertebrates, observing chemical reactions in the lab, or discovering efficiency by using
simple machines can create exciting ways for students to learn and experience the scientific
realm. In my classroom, students become first-hand witnesses of the real world. Learning to
observe, growing to think, and inspired to change, my students dont just learn science, they
experience it.