Hands-On Learning - Providing Students With an Authentic Learning Experience

Today, teachers are finding it more and more difficultwritten text into clear, understandable pictures.
to keep biology students engaged during classroomStudents will tell you they can see the pictures in
lectures. Traditional teaching techniques simply don'ttheir head months and years after being taught with
cut it in today's tech-savvy society - educators needthe manipulative models. In the past, students have
to provide their students with more in order to piquerarely been encouraged to use scientific method to
their interest and hold their attention. Teacherssolve problems relevant to their personal experience.
across Canada and around the world are calling forTools like manipulative models are designed to change
instructional strategies far different from thethe way students are taught to approach science,
conceptualization and memorization techniques of theand encourage them to become an active participant
past. Science educators want hands-on, minds-on,in the learning process. As one biology student said
authentic learning strategies. They want teaching aidswhen using the VIRTmac model, "I understood
like the VIRTmac magnetic classroom.biology for the first time because I [could] see the
Understanding Hands-On, Minds-On, Authenticcell parts moving." Having the ability to touch and
Learningmanipulate teaching tools can have a major effect on
Interactive teaching tools are the new paradigm fora student's ability to comprehend difficult topics.
science learning, providing students with theUsing the VIRTmac Lesson Plan to Teach Mitosis
opportunity to achieve a higher level of involvementThe VIRTmac Mitosis lesson plan is easy and fun to
and achievement in the classroom. This is becauseteach. Using the DNA nucleotides provided in the kit,
hands-on learning initiatives enable introductory levelteachers will build two homologous chromosomes.
science learners to perform complex concepts, ratherTeachers can then unzip and replicated the
than simply observe the process taking place.chromosomes, using four different enzymes and DNA
Students are able to center their attention fully onnucleotides. Students will be able to watch as the
core concepts when physical teaching aids are usedduplicated chromosomes become bonded together
in the classroom, which can result in the developmentvia a centromere. Teachers are able to manipulate
of enhanced problem solving skills and "minds-on"the duplicated chromosomes through each stage of
thinking processes. Finally, hands-on learning letsmitosis, including cytokenisis.
biology students collaborate on projects and broachThe Vision Behind Hands-On Instruction
real-life questions related to the concept at hand,There are three main beliefs associated with
creating an authentic learning experience.hands-on learning. These are that:
Why Manipulative Models Work1. Thinking skills, especially those that require a higher
Humans are naturally curious, it's simply how we'reunderstanding, must be learned through practice and
wired. Unfortunately, traditional teaching methodsparticipation.
have failed to tap into this curiosity. In fact, the2. A curriculum that includes hands-on activities is well
inquisitiveness of young minds is often diminished bysuited to scientific learning.
instruction that inadvertently discourages inquiry and3. Learning assessment can and should be built into
discovery. Building lessons one step at a timethe process of instruction, not just the final analysis
stimulates students' minds and fosters interest. This isof a student's understanding.
why the VIRTmac motto is "If you build it they willIf biology students are provided access to
learn". Assigning textbook readings before, during andmeaningful, engaged scientific lesson plans, they will
after lessons that involve manipulative models allowsstand a much greater chance of staying engaged and
students to develop a critical skill of convertinginterested in classroom instruction.