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Esmeralda,
This is a very fair question. As a preservice teacher at Wartburg College, I think engagement grows in students by connecting content to their interests. Allowing students to perform hands-on and interesting labs will be beneficial to student retention as well. Labs can be tedious and confusing for many students, but encouraging students to ask questions, providing interesting connections, and showing genuine excitement for the activity is vital. With secondary education, I plan to always show a connection between the processes they are performing to how it is used in the 'real' world. With genetics, for example, you could show how DNA is altered with GMOs, inbreeding mutations, or fingerprint sampling. Showing current discoveries that involve academic content will also increase engagement. Science has countless influences on how the world works, but making sure the connection is relevant to student interests will always be the most beneficial. Although labs can be tedious, the teacher's mood sets the tone for students. Reflecting on my own experience, I remember lessons taught by teachers who showed excitement and genuine interest in the content compared to teachers with little personality. Labs should be a positive experience for students to learn through discovery, and cooperation with peers can benefit this process. Working with partners can enhance a student's ability to work through problems and aid in developing vital cooperation skills for their future careers. For these reasons, I believe incorporating meaningful connections, showing excitement, and peer cooperation can increase student engagement.
Thank you for your question,
Keli Potter
Wartburg 24'
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