EDUCATIONAL TECHNIQUES, CONCEPTS AND IDEAS FOR ENHANCING OF PUPILS’ MOTIVATION AND INTEREST FOR NATURAL SCIENCES

By GIEDRĖ KVIETKAUSKIENĖ,

a physics teacher-expert at the Gabija High School in Vilnius

The main purpose of the teacher’s work is fostering of the creative abilities of pupils. One of the most important objectives is arousing of the interest in pupils for a subject. If the teaching process is carried out in an attractive way, it arouses curiosity and enhances a hunger for knowledge. When teaching physics, it is important not only to expose the theory of physics but also show the possibilities of the application of theory to practice by explaining phenomena of the world around us, in order to arouse the interest of pupils for physics, prompt them to observe and explain the surrounding world. This approach may be employed starting from the 7^th class. The practical assignment of homework is one of the techniques. Such assignments should be quite simple tasks that do not require complicated equipment; for example, observation of rate of diffusion in water of different temperature, observation of electrifying phenomena in bodies, observation of changes of aggregation states of water, drawing of trajectory of a moving tennis ball etc. By such assignments, a child is prompted to find and use aids, carry out the work and learn how to put it into shape and describe. Thus, the pupils can make their first steps towards laboratory tests performed in higher classes. The pupils usually like observation assignments such as description of physical phenomena observed on the way to the school, in your kitchen, bathroom, garden etc. Non-traditional lessons also may enhance the motivation. For example, a lesson “One Pupil to the Other”, when separate groups present topics prepared in advance. The pupils acquire skills to work in groups. Presentations of lessons may be performed in various forms including even some elements of show: advertisements, poems, songs, crosswords, posters, and drawings. It is essential to ensure that all pupils take part in presentation with no one not engaged. Pupils willingly participate in such lessons because aids manufactured by them are subsequently used in other classes. The presentation of prepared topics also in elementary classes is an additional and important factor for enhancing the motivation of pupils. Undoubtedly, assessment by marks is also a motivation-prompting factor. Both the assessment and self-assessment are very important. For assessment (self-assessment), I use special cards with one side white (for writing on of an assignment) and the other side of a bright colour (for writing on of an answer). Taking into consideration the fact that pupils like to work with computer, a computer programme, “Assignments in Physics” (G. Kvietkauskienė, T. Kvietkauskas) was developed (for learning, assessment and self-assessment, analysis of mistakes). It was particularly useful in preparation for exams because pupils have the possibility to analyse independently an assignment and look for a solution. In my opinion, all discussed techniques may be used for enhancing the motivation of pupils.

It is important not only to convey to pupils the essential knowledge but also to develop their abilities to discover and enjoy knowledge, participate in solving various problems and taking decisions with responsibility and self-confidence.