Children are naturally inquisitive and constantly come up with hypotheses about how natural and social phenomena occur. That is why we want to give you some tips today about how to encourage research and scientific projects in the classroom.
For students to have a positive attitude toward science and learning, it is necessary to take advantage of their curiosity and develop strategies so that from an early age, they can develop skills and abilities that allow them to build meaningful knowledge in which they are the protagonists.
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What is Scientific Research?
The word science comes from the Latin scientia, which means knowledge or knowing. According to River and Coronado, “science is understood not as a set of knowledge, absolute truths or already established knowledge, but as a constant search for answers to the questions that individuals permanently ask themselves about their reality” (p.15, p. 11).
Therefore, scientific research is known as the process of construction and appropriation of new concepts characterized by innovation, creativity, and critical judgment, where students take the role of researchers, allowing them to explain the phenomena of their environment.
Among the different research methods that exist we find the following:
Inductive-deductive method
It starts from a hypothesis whose objective is to generate more information on the subject to be studied.
Historical-logical method
It encourages students to do their research based on chronological succession.
Hypothetical-deductive method
The student must have an initial hypothesis for this method that can be proven true or false at the end of the research.
Scientific observation
It is based on the student’s analysis of the subject matter under study, from which they acquire information.
Experimental research
It is known as an empirical method of study since the goal is for the student to adjust the control of some of the study object’s conditions and observe the changes that occur.
Learn more about→ 5 conceptos difíciles de comprender: ¿cómo abordarlos?
How to promote it?
The Declaration of the World Conference on Science for the 21st Century, sponsored by UNESCO and the International Council for Science, has stated that “for a country to be in a position to meet the fundamental needs of its population, science, and technology education is a strategic requirement.”
As a result, there is a call for children and youth to develop competencies and skills in these areas to respond to society’s needs.
Here are some recommendations:
- Allow students to develop hypotheses about the phenomena that most attract their attention.
- Encourage students to look for scientific and bibliographic documents so that they have references.
- Create work teams to promote students’ collaborative work.
- Include technological tools that allow them to perform experiments and integrate theory with practice.
- Encourage and support students’ research processes so that they become enthusiastic about science.
These tools will provide students with the opportunity to receive education on a dynamic platform while also allowing them to be more involved in their learning process.
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References
Rivera, G. O., & Coronado, M. L. C. (2015). La formación científica en los primeros años de escolaridad. Panorama, 9(17), 10-23.
Torres, A. P. G., Montaña, J. E. C., & Herrera, J. M. R. (2008). El pensamiento científico en los niños y las niñas: algunas consideraciones e implicaciones. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia MEMORIAS CIIEC, 22-29.
Falcón, A. L., & Serpa, G. R. (2021). Acerca de los métodos teóricos y empíricos de investigación: significación para la investigación educativa. Revista Conrado, 17(S3), 22-31.
Araoz, E. G. E., Amesquita, F. E. C., Ramos, N. A. G., & Uchasara, H. J. M. (2021). Actitud hacia la investigación científica en estudiantes peruanos de educación superior pedagógica. Apuntes Universitarios, 11(3), 60-72.
