Think Like A Scientist

Enjoyed reading the article in July  5, 2010 Vol. 176, No. I/2010 Time Magazine by Bryan Walsh “The Electrifying Edison.” Walsh provides an overview of Edison’s accomplishments throughout his lifetime, with emphasis on his many inventions. By the age of 84 and at the time of his death in 1931, Edison had secured 1,093 patents for mechanisms and processes. What I find interesting and of importance to the educational community is Edison’s upbringing and his devotion to science and creative thinking. Edison had relatively little formal schooling, his mother was responsible for creating an environment that helped nurture Edison’s curiosity towards science and technology. Edison is one of the most famous and prolific inventors of all time, and he earned that title through his hands-on, critical thinking and investigative approach to seeking answers and creating new devices. For over twenty years the American educational system has tried to revamp the way science is taught and done in the classroom. Yet data still shows that America is lagging behind in the number of science and engineering degrees awarded to U.S. citizens. Are U.S. students becoming disenchanted with science? And if so, why? When Edison was in lab working on one of his latest devices he surrounded himself with other scientists who also shared his devotion of science and critical thinking approach to exploring new ideas. In many of today’s science classrooms but not enough of them. Science is being taught via an inquiry-based approach, much like the approach Thomas Edison took as he researched and developed his inventions. The teacher is no longer spoon feeding disconnected facts and lecturing, and the textbook is not seen as the ultimate guide to the course. Instead students are actively engaged in the learning process through hands-on-minds-on critical thinking explorations to investigate scientific principles and concepts. I encourage all educational institutions to assure that their teachers are providing a learning environment that will nurture the future Edison’s, and instill a love of science and life-long learning. For educational institutions that have taken a close look at their current science education and realize that they must make changes to the way science is taught and done in the classroom please visit my teacher training website.  My teacher training website provides information on the professional staff development teacher training science workshops I offer nationwide. Let’s not lose anymore potential Edison’s due to what and how we are teaching science in the classroom.