Lior Schenk
  • Blog
  • THESIS
    • MISSION: Learning science by doing science.
    • ARGUMENTATION: The missing piece to inquiry.
    • IMPLEMENTATION: Teaching students to think like scientists
    • FINDINGS: Student growth and response to argumentation frameworks
    • REFLECTION: Co-generative thoughts for future practice
    • ARTIFACTS: Data from the field and the study
  • Portfolio
    • Practice with UbD: My very first Unit Plan
    • EVOLUTION & YOU: Inquiry-Based Unit design (with faculty feedback)
    • WEEKLY SHEETS: A minimalist system for flexible lesson planning.
    • Teaching at SLA: Multimedia Documentation of my Student Teaching Experience
  • About

​Teaching Science, Talking Science

Thoughts on STEM education, learning, and critical pedagogy in the modern age.

Why I Teach Science

7/27/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
J. Lichtman 2008, Harvard University
For me, science isn't just  a way of knowing  how things work. It's an ever-changing tool for understanding, navigating, and appreciating the entire world around us! And the worlds within us, as well.

Pictured above is a closeup of the brain's hippocampus. We can see each of the microscopic neurons within it, and all of their branching connections too. Together, these cells form a region that is critical for learning and memory--and it's just one of the many, many endlessly complex components of the brain! Somehow--and we still don't know how--these regions and circuits assemble to form the grand condition that is human consciousness.  We're still figuring it out. And in that way, we're kind of like brains learning about themselves, aren't we? 

This is just one scientific puzzle. There are infinitely more to solve. Some are thrilling, some boring, and others immensely difficult--but together, in practicing science, they bring us closer to understanding life and existence. In practicing science, we find meaning.

This is why I teach science: in this pursuit, we as learners and individuals are each made better. We are driven to think deeply and earnestly, and to seek both truth and meaning. We are challenged to be critical, and to collaborate -- and perhaps, even, to bring positive change to this little planet that we all call home. 


To pass on these skills would be my greatest honor.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi! I'm a bio/chem teacher and M.S.Ed. student at the University of Pennsylvania.

    I care a lot about science and education, so I built this site to serve as a hub and launchpad in my research and career efforts. I'll also be including inquiries and notes from my field observations. 

    All students' names replaced with pseudonyms.

    More Info

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017

    Categories

    All
    Personal
    STEM

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • THESIS
    • MISSION: Learning science by doing science.
    • ARGUMENTATION: The missing piece to inquiry.
    • IMPLEMENTATION: Teaching students to think like scientists
    • FINDINGS: Student growth and response to argumentation frameworks
    • REFLECTION: Co-generative thoughts for future practice
    • ARTIFACTS: Data from the field and the study
  • Portfolio
    • Practice with UbD: My very first Unit Plan
    • EVOLUTION & YOU: Inquiry-Based Unit design (with faculty feedback)
    • WEEKLY SHEETS: A minimalist system for flexible lesson planning.
    • Teaching at SLA: Multimedia Documentation of my Student Teaching Experience
  • About