Developing Science Process Skills of Secondary Students through an E-content Package

Abstract

Introduction Historically, school science teaching emphasises on the development of process skills. UNESCO (Bangkok, 1978) has recommended understanding science processes as one of the most important objectives of the integrated science programmes, followed in the middle school classes (Grades 6, 7 and 8) of Indian schools. While planning the Integrated Science Curriculum for the middle school students (Grades 6, 7 and 8) of Indian schools, NCERT, New Delhi, has identified the process approach as one of the core elements of the science course. To fulfil the objectives, the contents of the system are to be selected and presented in such a way that it would influence the brain, heart and hands of the learners. A thorough study of the document ‘Integrated Science Curriculum: An Introduction’ (NCERT, 1982) states, “A science curriculum must stress more on the processes than the products of science”. An innovative application in the teaching and learning process is e-content. This may be computer-based, including text, video, audio, animation and graphics. The e-content is mainly viewed as a way to preserve and carry forward the cultural or historical heritage, disseminate lifestyle, scientific, educational and business information in a digitalised format, or provide user-interactive service. The e-content is valuable to the learners, and helping to all individualised instructional systems teachers. E-learning is a process, and e-content is a product. This teaching approach has become an answer to the complicated modern, social, and economic conditions, and an exploding population. An e-content package can be used as a teacher in a virtual classroom situation. Using e-content, time and money can be minimised required in the teaching process. Facilitating individualised learning, creating interest and maintaining it among the students is a significant concern for the science teachinglearning process.