Hyderabad, January 18: The pedagogic practices in teaching science subjects need a complete revamp in order to boost the scientific temper amongst the present generation of students, Dr Qazi Azher Siraj, an Indian scientist working in the United State of America, opined.
Interacting with students at a seminar organised by the Jana Vignana Vedika at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram on ‘how to formulate a science project’ here today, he advised students and teachers to focus on methodology rather than formulas in science and mathematics.
“Most of the students try to memorise formulas and even the teachers advocate this kind of practice. This is not the correct way of learning science and the students at the end of each class should have more questions than answers,’’ he said and added that students should shed all the myths they have in mind about scientists and science. The study of science involves keen observation, he said.
The study of science do not require instruments or apparatus, he said and added that Newton by observing falling apples formulated the theory of gravitation.
As most of the schools in the country do not foster thinking at primary and secondary level, Siraj said Indian students do not develop original ideas till very late in their career.
He urged the teachers not to put pressure on students about the performance in the examinations but to encourage creativity among children.
—Agencies