Pre-school instructions: key to long-term love of Science and Math
Studies revealed that there is a declining proficiency in science and math among American students. According to some experts, this problem could be attributed to the fact that students receive no significant training or instruction in the primary years of their education.
In her study entitled "Policy Implications for Math, Science, and Technology in Early Childhood Education,” Barbara T. Bowman, the president of the Erikson Institute in Chicago, argued that "roots of later competence are established long before school age, and recent findings from neuroscience confirm the importance of the link between early experience and subsequent achievement." According to the paper, most schools concentrate on literacy during the early years of students’ education and other areas of education, most notable science and math, are neglected.
The key to solving this problem therefore, is to introduce math and science programs early on in the students’ education. The author further adds, “it is clear that children who are exposed to multiple opportunities to learn through the media, books, and computers, as well as those who have knowledgeable family members and preschool teachers, are more likely to be well prepared for school than children who do not have such reinforcement.”
The theory is starting to gain ground in the United States. In the recent years, schools have begun introducing math and science programs for elementary students. The Wheeler Elementary School in Indiana for example, has acquired software that enables its students to learn various mathematical and scientific concepts through various multimedia resources. Using materials like music CDs and videos, the program presents young students with more interesting and appealing ways to learn concepts such as measurement, life science, and geometry.
The Philippines is experiencing a similar education dilemma as the US. In the 2005 achievement test for example, the average scores of elementary and high school students in Science and Math were below the passing marks. The Department of Education is currently addressing the problem by requiring public school teachers who are non-science and math majors to undergo a six-week training that will improve their knowledge and mastery of the subjects. There are, however, no projects similar to the US school’s program.
Sources:
“DepEd to improve Math and Science teaching,”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=34976
Bowman, Barbara. “Policy Implications for Math, Science, and Technology in Early Childhood Education,”
http://www.project2061.org/publications/earlychild/online/context/bowman.htm
“Early Childhood Science Education is Key to Lifelong Enthusiasm and Success,”
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060725/20060725005857.html?.v=1
