Writing in Science and Technology Classrooms
Improve Student Knowledge through Writing Exercises
When students write, they are active learners. The process itself has been shown to increase students’ understanding of concepts and provides an outlet through which to make connections.
Writing in science and technology classrooms shows students that these subjects are not as much about the memorization of facts as the discovery of something new and how to communicate what has been found. This can be done through a variety of summative and exploratory exercises.
Summary Exercises
Writing assignments that summarize information take a variety of forms in science and technology classrooms. Lab reports are commonly utilized to not only collect student data and provide context for the scientific method but also provide a medium through which students analyze what they observe and provide concluding thoughts. Paragraphs or essays can be assigned to evaluate a scientific article. More advanced students could send a letter to the editor of a scientific or technical journal.
Other student-centered summative exercises include shorter writing pieces. Students can write a sentence or two in order to answer to a question about a homework assignment. They can write an explanation to go with a graph, diagram or model. True or false questions on an assessment can become writing when students are asked to provide a rewording of a false statement so that it becomes true.
Exploratory Exercises
Though not as precise as summative exercises, exploratory writing has an important place in science and technology classrooms. These exercises are less formal and encourage students to make connections between known concepts or explore a new idea by using what they already know.
One way to incorporate writing in this informal manner is to utilize brainstorming. Brainstorming forces students to think about what they already know and how it might be related to the problem or question posed. It is not a technique confined to developing a paper but can also be used to introduce a topic by asking students to brainstorm what they already know.
Another informal writing exercise that can promote critical thinking and make connections with new material is through the use of a journal. Journal assignments can take many forms, from requiring a specified number of entries of the student’s choice per week to providing specific questions or statements for students' to contemplate through their writing.
When writing for science or technology classes, students should aim to be logical and objective. Unless the writing is exploratory in nature it should also be quantitative and verifiable. Students should be encouraged to avoid first person, be organized and provide data or references whenever appropriate. Writing is introduced in this context develops critical thinking skills while increasing their understanding of the concepts.
Reference:
Teaching Today. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Online. 2000-2005.
