INCULCATION OF VALUES THROUGH SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL

Abstract

Science is a systematic study and knowledge of natural and physical phenomena. In this era, scientific education is much emphasised in all societies the world over. The main goal of science education is to prepare the right type of environment for the individual, to allow learners grow physically, mentally and spiritually in order for them to develop harmoniously over time together with fellow human beings. According to NCF-2005, a teacher should act as a facilitator and not as a transformer of contents where they can think, realise, analyse and develop their own way of learning something beyond the textbook. The National Curriculum Framework for school education brought out by NCERT (2005) mentions that school education in the country seems to have developed some kind of neutrality towards the basic values. The National Policy on Education (NPE) (1986) has clearly emphasised the need of learning of science as a part of general education without compartmentalising into its different disciplines. The NPE (1986) reflects the government’s desire to make readjustments in the curriculum in order to make education a forceful tool for the cultivation of social and moral values. Science operates through its processes. Hence, science teaching is to be different from that of the other subjects. Mere question answer method will not be enough. Thinking based upon keen and minute observations with the help of activities/experiments skill is to be generated amongst the learner. Teaching-learning of science needs to be characterised by focused emphasis on processes of science. Learning of science increases the spirit of enquiry, creativity and objectivity along with aesthetic sensibility. It aims to develop welldefined abilities of knowing, doing and being. It also nurtures the abilities to explore and seek solution to the problems related to environment and daily life situations and to question the existing beliefs, prejudices and practices in society. Science concerns itself with the fundamental knowledge of universe, world and its environment. In the light of NCF, it is now being felt that technology (science of mechanical and industrial arts) is increasingly influencing our quality of life. Hence, there is a need to promote values through technology infused science using practical skills at the upper primary and secondary stages. The main objective of this article is to develop practical skills in order to enrich the science teachers in learning the systematic performance of science experiments to relate the science concept values effectively at the school level