An important aspect of applying science concepts in industry is the goal: in industry most of times the goal is the design of new products or processes, while in science the goal is new knowledge. Within science we try to understand the world and within technology we try to change the world. Scientists explore the physical world and develop theoretical models for explanation. Scientists design technical systems for their research and often engineers do scientific research as part of their product design. Students should be involved in both research projects and design projects. Through IBSE activities students can become familiar with the characteristic ways of thinking and problem solving approaches in both science and technology.
Discussions that focus on the importance and benefits of bringing science from outside the classroom into science teaching in the classroom will:
1. encourage students to see the relevance of ‘school’ science;
2. raise the awareness of employment opportunities in science-related industry;
3. appreciate and deepen their understanding of fundamental science supported by tangible applications. The activity “ICK-Study visits as powerful pedagogical tools” discusses how study visits can be used in teaching. Teachers can examine their own usual teaching strategies to find good examples that they already employ. They can also practise the skill of reviewing project ideas and giving and receiving criticism.
4. enhance the social dimension of students’ education by meeting people (maybe their neighbours) in a new context. This improves mutual respect as well as communication.
In order to discuss how ICK can support creating authentic experiences for student learning, we need to explain what is meant by Authentic experiences ?
Authentic scientific inquiry is defined according to five characteristics: development of personal and, cultural knowledge; contextualized scientific knowledge; the progression toward high-order problem solving; social interaction for scientific goals; and scientific inquiry as a multi-stage and multi-representational process. [Active Assessment: Assessing Scientific Inquiry, Hanauer, et al, 2009, Springer Press]