Learning Science From Home
In the wake of state-mandated school closures, students have undertaken an abrupt transition to distance learning. While this is a difficult adjustment in general, as online learning eliminates the personal interaction with teachers, distance learning also presents specific challenges for science courses.
Moving science classes out of the classroom decreases the opportunities for collaborative study and eliminates the possibility of in-person laboratory experiments, which provide invaluable hands-on experiences for students – allowing them to see scientific concepts in action. Educators are doing their best to ease this transition for students, but what are some actions students can take to get the most out of their science classes? Let’s take a look.
Strategies for Success
Keep Taking Notes. Even though you are not in the classroom, it’s important to take notes! Whether you are taught material through live classes, pre-recorded lectures or assigned readings, maintain your notebook for your science class. Keep it legible and organized, and draw out diagrams relevant to the topic (e.g., free body diagrams for physics, or Lewis dot structures for chemistry). The act of writing the information down will help you remember it and give you organized notes to study with as you’re preparing for your tests. You can even use your notes to refresh your memory for a future college science course!
Ask Questions. In science courses, the information generally starts out simple and then builds upon itself – even small details could very well become important in later chapters! Without the benefit of in-person classes where you can easily raise a hand or stop by after class, you must be proactive in continued communication. Email your teachers with any questions you may have, and follow up if needed.
Utilize Online Resources. The best part of science courses for most students is the lab component. Labs generally prove that the theories and equations you’ve been learning about do, in fact, work, while simultaneously tying abstract concepts to practical application. While there is no true replacement for hands-on experiments, there are some useful resources. Online tools, like UC Boulder's interactive PhET simulations, provide free simulated lab experiences for chemistry, physics, biology, and more. You can change variables, take measurements, and record outcomes interactively, just like in-person experiments.
Explain The Topics. Studies have shown that teaching or explaining a concept you have recently learned to someone is the best way to retain the information yourself. In the classroom this tends to happen naturally: teachers will call on students to answer questions, and classmates often discuss difficult topics amongst themselves during group assignments. However, since most of your learning is happening independently for now, you have fewer opportunities to collaborate. To review and extend your mastery, try explaining new concepts to your family or virtually to a friend. If you’re having trouble explaining the concept, you might not fully understand it.
While this is a difficult time to focus on school, keep your eye on the bigger picture: your efforts to master science material now will help prepare you for the ACT, required college courses, and for life in general – science is the basis for nearly everything in modern society! So stay sharp and make the most out of this distance learning experience.
If you want more comprehensive support as you continue to learn from home, get in touch. Our team of science tutors are ready to help you overcome the challenges distance learning presents with skilled and engaging online teaching.
