“Schoolyard Ecology” improves science education
To most of us, the word science is synonymous with technology…and it follows that the more advanced the technology, the better the quality of science education. That may not be true, however. As I learned this morning, science is less about computer chips and robots than it is about learning to think.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
You don’t need a fancy lab to learn real science. That’s what a number of teachers, principals and naturalists have been learning in a first of its kind workshop in Belize. The programme called “Schoolyard Ecology” shows the participants how they can use what is available to teach children how human organisms interact with their environment. The exercise is being coordinated by Dr. Peter Feinsinger, an ecologist who has introduced the programme throughout South America and is now moving north.
Dr. Peter Feinsinger, Facilitator, Schoolyard Ecology
“Just spoons and a shovel and paper towel and things like that. You don’t need anything more to do real science and to learn a lot. You don’t need microscopes. You don’t need computers at all. What you need is right here and things like nails and spoons.”
Simple tools that the participants used to look for ants and spiders and to study the disturbances in the landscape. Today, the schoolyard of Cayo’s Ontario Christian School became the living laboratory.
Terrence Andries, Teacher, Guyana
“You can do a research right in your schoolyard, rather than just thinking that everything is in the forest. But there is a lot of things you can do in the schoolyard where ecology is concerned.”
Idollyn Adolphus, Principal, Ontario Christian School
“Now I know the importance of a schoolyard. At first as teachers we just look at a schoolyard and say we can put playgrounds and the children can go out to play. But we can use our playground now as a science class.”
The four-day workshop is being sponsored by the Belize Audubon Society, which was first introduced to the programme by the National Audubon Society in the United States.
Nellie Catzim, Protected Areas Coordinator, BAS
“I think the children will find this programme very interesting because they will get the opportunity to actually go out in their schoolyards and play around dig up and actually have fun doing this exercise while they are getting a great deal from it.”
The programme is not compulsory, but come September and the start of the new school year, teachers who have been involved with the exercise will be encouraged to introduce the programme into their classrooms.
Three other schools will be used for the workshop. They are Armenia Government School, Belmopan Junior School and Crooked Tree Government School.
