ISCIENTIST. A PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCE TO FOSTER CURIOSITY IN THE CLASSROOM

Curiosity and asking questions are driving forces of science and scientific research. They also develop basic skills required to make informed decisions in the world. Traditional learning has directed attention on achieving the correct answers and thereby inhibiting curiosity and the desire to ask questions. By encouraging curiosity, students are given the chance to explore what interests them, and to take ownership of their learning.

Over the past six years, the iScientist program from the Davidson institute of Science Education, has cultivated the skill of asking questions through unmediated video conversation with active scientists. iScientist is used as a resource to assist the educator as the facilitator and mediator, exposing students to scientists as role models and to the forefront of scientific practice.