Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) dubbed its science literacy initiative as 'Small Science'. A series of science text for class I to V, the programme has been developed in association with IIT-based InOpen Technologies with the primary intention of promoting science literacy within all age groups. The Small Science involves a series of innovative primary science text, work and teacher's guide based on the principles of building upon the natural curiosity of young children.
Jayashree Ramadas, director, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, while explaining the concept to revolutionalise education, especially the science curriculum, says, "School education in India is dominated by rote memorisation, which is not only ineffectual as a learning method, but also disinterests students towards learning. Students should ask questions, think independently and learn autonomously. Teachers need to only guide and support the learning of students." The current programme, which is text-based, is available online in the form of e-books. "The curriculum encourages learning through questions, activities, observation and analysis. It relates science to students' experiences and systematically develops a base of concrete experiences on which abstractions of science can be built.
A few schools have been using Small Science, over the last ten years, and have given us a very positive feedback. The partnership has also helped bring Small Science to the digital platform. "With our value added services, such as e-learning, we will add a category and venture into science education. Our focus, however, remains primarily on content and not fancy technology," concludes Shah. With releases in various regional languages, apart from English and Hindi, Small Science is set to reach out to urban students as well as those from tier two and three cities.
For more details, visit www.hbcse.tifr.res.in