My expectations from L2R - Ranjana Robertson

Invitation from L2R landed as a boon to me. After I received my training for GLOBE in 2006, I had not been consistent to participate in GLOBE activities. Climate research project will be the passport for me and my students to get connected with real people who think and act like scientists. The word climate may be familiar to students but the facts associated with it will open the gates to explore and experiment. I am excited to know what this project is in store for me and my students. I am very enthusiastic to learn new ways to research and transfer the knowledge to my students as well.

As a science teacher, I want to enhance my inquiry methods during laboratory and field investigations to help students understand the seriousness of any climatic problem and contribute to the conservation of environment. Students must learn the related facts with climate and the factors affecting it. In spite of having twenty five years of teaching science to different grade levels, I feel compelled to rigor my students to adopt good practices of inquiry. Traditionally, teaching the curriculum based laboratory activity has not prepared aggressive learners. Unfortunately, our students do not think and act like a scientist until they reach college or are getting ready to choose a career. I want to make my students think like scientists in their everyday needs and routine. I want to also train them to check water quality that will generate interest in students to think critically, ask well-defined questions and use appropriate equipment and technology.

Education is an ongoing process for everybody. Being a science teacher I feel more obliged to keep myself equipped with new methods of inquiry and research. I have always craved to see overall development of my students. Every time I plan an activity for my students, I always ask myself, whether the activity is in compliance of the curriculum or is it connecting them with the real world? It is also my concern to see if I’m able to impart knowledge to all categories of students. Hands-on activity is a sure strategy to clear the concept. But many times field trips and investigations are not possible because of financial constraints. L2R 2012-2013 cohort with the GLOBE Program will open a door for me to explore and expand my knowledge to incorporate in the classroom on our campus. After learning the methods of investigation and research related to climate I can easily attain my goal of preparing my students to do meaningful investigations to learn as well as to benefit community.

Science is all about investigations and inventions then draw conclusions to improve lifestyle of mankind. Learning to Research is the first step to prepare students to think like scientists, talk like scientists and contribute like scientists. After performing the investigations on different climate based aspects and drawing the conclusions how it is going to affect the life of mankind will develop a sense of responsibility in all of my students towards the problem intrinsically. Technology will reveal the real world problems under the cover which will expand their way of thinking. Besides investigation, students will be motivated to create well-defined questions to interview people by self created surveys. They’ll be able to develop confidence how to communicate effectively on real world problems, draw conclusions and predict the results. My students will be able to plan and design their own experiments on real world problems like, how to conserve energy, how to use biodegradable mass, how to control air pollution, and many more. Students will grow in all dimensions as they will write their research to go to school magazine. The students will develop sense of planning, organizing and conducting the events.

I am sure L2R Project will benefit us more than our expectations.