Looks like there’s another science curriculum being tested out. STEMscopes is an education system revolving around the science curriculum. It revolves around the students having their textbooks online and have them work on activities online. Seems normal enough until you see that the students are not told whether or not their answers are right or wrong. Instead of telling students outright if their answers are correct or not, students would discuss on which way of solving a problem is better. This Socratic way of learning is meant to help kids compare what they know and interact with each other and help each other grow.
One teacher described this new curriculum by stating, “STEMscopes is a new idea in teaching… the teacher doesn’t teach the students like the old ways, the students learn things on their own.” I asked for his/her opinion on the topic, however he wanted to withhold that information. We’re just going to have to wait and see how students perform with the new curriculum, however I will offer my opinion on this new system.
I generally don’t care if the textbooks are online, however if the activities are ALL online, then there comes a problem where students are not learning how to do things hands-on. Secondly, I wholeheartedly disagree with the Socratic method of discussing right or wrong answers, I do not think it is at all reasonable to keep quiet if a student’s answer is correct or not. It could work for things such as philosophical questions where there are no right or wrong answers, however in science when there IS a correct way of doing something, especially in processes where someone could get hurt, there should be no questioning involved. In any case, if this new curriculum does what it is supposed to and teach students and make sure they succeed in classes, this new method could stick around for a while.
One teacher described this new curriculum by stating, “STEMscopes is a new idea in teaching… the teacher doesn’t teach the students like the old ways, the students learn things on their own.” I asked for his/her opinion on the topic, however he wanted to withhold that information. We’re just going to have to wait and see how students perform with the new curriculum, however I will offer my opinion on this new system.
I generally don’t care if the textbooks are online, however if the activities are ALL online, then there comes a problem where students are not learning how to do things hands-on. Secondly, I wholeheartedly disagree with the Socratic method of discussing right or wrong answers, I do not think it is at all reasonable to keep quiet if a student’s answer is correct or not. It could work for things such as philosophical questions where there are no right or wrong answers, however in science when there IS a correct way of doing something, especially in processes where someone could get hurt, there should be no questioning involved. In any case, if this new curriculum does what it is supposed to and teach students and make sure they succeed in classes, this new method could stick around for a while.