Hello everyone,
It seems to me that science is a language and when teaching it we have to acknowledge this aspect. Like any other language the words and concepts must be used and manipulated to give them any meaning. I find that the greatest hurdle many students face is keeping track of and understanding vocabulary- not unlike any other language student. This can be a major problem when the student is new to science and many broad topics are being covered. Somehow we need to get them to use the words actively- say them aloud- manipulate them- practice- and not just read passivly or listen to a lecture. I have had some success building practice tools with online media, but would welcome any thoughts or ideas that could improve active language development.
Thanks