Nature of Expertise

Nature of Expertise - Do Science like Scientists!

Rafe used to teach his class science from a textbook.  They never picked up an actual beaker, never measured any substances mass or weight--they had never learned as scientists do.  By experimenting, by using actual scientific lab equipment and tools.  He recalls this story about a brilliant scientist Caryn who came to visit his classroom and completely changed the way he taught science:

“Caryn [has a MD/PhD from Johns Hopkins University]..Today she works as an oncologist.  Several years ago, she came to visit Room 56…[she told me] ‘No kid in here i going to be a doctor.’  [She told me students] had to put down their books and pick up their equipment.  They had to observe, experiment, record, ana analyze.  Above all, they have to fail and learn from their failures.” (Esquith, p.96-97).

Now, Rafe teaches science to his students by having them learn and operate like real scientists do: by running actual experiments with lab equipment. collect data, analyze that data, and derive conclusions from their analyses!  He has them build rockets using science kits and has them use beakers and bunsen burners.

He recounts,

“Now, years later, I have former students who are doctors.  Several are environmental scientists.  Toda men and women of science write to tell me that their careers began in Room 56.  Thanks to Caryn’s blunt evaluation, I made some changes that have helped me help others lead exciting and meaningful lives devoted to scientific inquiry” (Esquith, p.97).

Clearly, the way students become experts is by doing what the experts do!  That’s how they themselves become experts!  Their learning in the classroom must be directly applicable and related to the actual work that experts dive into and explore. "Students learn by doing, explaining and applying ideas to solve meaningful problems" (CHLS, p.35). "Students learn by doing, explaining, and applying ideas to solve meaningful problems" (Sawyer, p.35).

Source:

Esquith, R. (2007). Rocket Man. In Teach like your hair's on fire: The methods and madness inside room 56 (p. 96-97). New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Sawyer, R K. The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Internet resource.