258 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
interpreting, reviewing, recording, reporting, and evaluating. Learning experiences should
be geared to the type of growth and behavior changes to be brought about in the student
and the need to make him an enlightened, discriminating, dynamic, productive and democratic
citizen.
Need of Modern Methods in Environmental Science
- There are many roads to successful learning to be tried for meeting particular
needs and situations. To make the subject interesting, vital and living the teacher
should also use permutations and combinations of methods, devices, and techniques
for example to lend color to class teaching. He may use lecture or discussion method
or a combination of these two. The teacher should be conversant with a variety of
methods of Environmental Science. - Different lessons or units should be taught by different methods of teaching. It can
be very monotonous to use the same methods for every circumstance. In the past
few decades a tremendous increase in equipment materials, means and teaching
procedures has been witnessed. These should be utilized to provide variety and
color to teaching Environmental Science. To create and maintain their interest and
avoid monotony children should be exposed to varied experiences. - No single method can be the best for all situations, and for all teachers and pupils.
The suitable method should emerge out of the abundance of information and skill
of the teacher. It should be harmonized with the content to be taught. Every
teacher of Environmental Science should be familiar with the different means for
reckoning the desired ends.
Characteristics of Good Teaching Method
- Group Related Experiences and Activities
A good method should provide a group of related experiences and activities, arranged
on an individual as well as group basis, particularly designed to produce changes’ in terms
of knowledge, understanding, habits, attitudes and skills, and behavior of the students.
- Scope for Creative Expression
A good, method should provide scope for the creative expression of the child’s
individuality.
- Interests in Content
Rather than be a mechanical device for passing on facts and figure a good method
should rouse a large range of interests in the minds of the students.
- Shift in emphasis
Through purposeful, concrete and realistic situations a good method should shift
emphasis from verbalism and memorization to learning.
- Training in Self-Study
A good method should train the, students in the techniques of self-study and the methods
of acquiring knowledge through personal effort or intuition.