The” No one Stays Behind” project offers an excellent opportunity to implement new approaches to scientific disciplines while working with students, especially those who manifest a low motivation and self-esteem and are at a risk of dropping out of school.
Learning by doing is an old concept recognised by the majotiry psychologists and experts in the field of learning. And, according to this approach, STEAM methodologies could represent the natural evolution of early theories about laboratory learning.
At IIS CONCETTO Marchesi teachers are experimenting with various STEAM activities to engage students into discipline and boost their motivation to study. As we know, STEAM is an acronym for indicate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. According to this, Natural Science and Chemistry offer a lot of food for thought to pique students’ interest in scientific studies.
To develop the STEAM approach in the school, a practical activity was led by the teacher Marisa Ferriolo with a group of students attending the second class (9th grade). The activity, titled “Cara Rosalind..”, had mainly the aim at developing into the students’ attitude to reflect on a problem and build a model about it. It consisted of three phases, and lasted from the beginning of May to the end of June.
In the first phase of the Activity, students were divided into several work groups and a specific task was given: they had to look for information through the Net about the life and works of Rosalind Franklin, a not popular woman who was the first scientist to shoot a picture of DNA using an X-Ray machine. This image allowed the scientists Watson and Crick to discover DNA structure in 1953 and thanks to her work they won the Nobel Prize
The second phase of the activity was the most engaging for students: they were invited to build a molecule model of DNA, using their favourite materials. Students always demonstrate their inventiveness, so, on the scheduled day each group presented its explanation, showing a range of models varying from a 3D printed model to one made of gummy sweets!
Finally, students were asked to write a letter to the scientist expressing their feelings towards her. This was a moment characterized by a reflection about women’s conditions in modern and contemporary society; students realized that being a female scientist is more difficult than being a male one (as it unfortunately happens in many social fields!)
According to their feedback at the end of the activity, they enjoyed it: on the one hand, in fact, they were involved into the scientist’s life and work, gaining a deeper understanding of the subject matter. On the other hand, they enjoyed the challenge of building a molecular model as complex as a DNA molecule.
In addition to what we said above, it’s also worth mentioning the satisfaction expressed by the teacher, who thoroughly enjoyed both working actively with the students and witnessing the high levels of results they achieved.
See you next STEM activity!
Edited by Marisa Ferriolo
