Science Beyond Textbooks: Embracing Hands-on Learning for Holistic Education

On the 7th of January 2024, the Mukti education team curated an enlightening discussion session titled “Hands-on Science: Joy of Learning” at Krishnachnadrapur School. The event was an extension of the “Sundarban Agriculture, Education, Handicrafts, and Environment Fair 2024”, being held on the school grounds. 45-50 Mukti Support School teachers attended the session.

 

The distinguished panel featured luminaries in the field of science education, including esteemed figures such as Professor Deepak Ghosh (Professor Emeritus, Physics Department, Jadavpur University), Dr. Arindam Rana, (Professor of Chemistry, City College), Professor B. N. Das (retired Principal of Gurudas College and a renowned science advocate across India), Abhijit Bardhan (Science Communicator and Physics teacher), and Dr. Amalesh Mishra (retired director of Zoological Survey of India and visiting professor at Calcutta University), all of whom graced the discussion session with their invaluable educational insights and engaging demonstrations.

The focus of their discourse revolved around the imperative need for hands-on science education, emphasizing that science extends far beyond the confines of textbooks. The speakers underscored the boundless relevance of science in everyday life. Hands-on activities were highlighted for their ability to challenge students, fostering the skills to analyze data, establish connections, and draw sound conclusions. Through these activities, students are encouraged to question assumptions, test hypotheses, and cultivate critical thinking regarding their experimental outcomes. This analytical mindset, they emphasized, serves as a cornerstone for their future endeavors.

Often, our perception of science may be confined to museums, lab experiments, chemical reactions, or equations to be memorized. However, the speakers articulated that hands-on science transcends these limited perspectives. It was stressed that hands-on science matters because it facilitates deep and holistic learning – a learning experience that extends far beyond rote memorization, encouraging a profound understanding and application of scientific principles in real-world scenarios.