Exercise F, page 172.0:02
Now, if you are a parent and want to enrich your child's learning, you will be interested to hear what my next guest has to say.0:05
Alex Durkum is with me today to talk about his Young Inventors Program.0:14
Thank you for joining us, Alex.0:19
Alex, you designed your Young Inventors Program to be incorporated into schools.0:23
As part of their science curriculum.0:28
However, from what I understand, you are not a teacher or educator, but an engineer.0:31
So, what is your interest in science in schools?0:37
Yes, it's true I am an engineer, but science and problem-solving are an important part of my job.0:41
When I heard other parents complaining about the science classes at our school, I didn't take much notice until I saw that my daughter was not interested in science at all.0:47
She and her friends didn't want to go to their school's science fair.0:57
That's when I thought, "What's wrong with the science programme in our schools?"1:00
And what was wrong with it?1:05
Well, it wasn't that the students didn't do experiments to find solutions to problems, but the way that everything was presented.1:07
It was just dull and tedious.1:14
You see, as well as being challenging, the material must also be presented in the right way so that students find it stimulating and want to learn.1:16
OK, so what is your programme all about?1:25
In my programme, students are given interesting and often unusual problems to solve.1:29
What distinguishes it from the usual problem-solving is that students are encouraged to break down a complex problem into smaller parts, so they can understand it better.1:34
Rather than providing instructions, teachers encourage students to find their own solutions through experimentation.1:43
Do they work in groups?1:50
Yes, teamwork is an important part of the learning process.1:51
It allows students to share ideas and find creative solutions to problems.1:55
By working together, students are encouraged to find answers for themselves.2:00
Teachers simply oversee and encourage the students without interfering.2:05
Mistakes and failures are part of the process.2:10
Are you saying it's okay for students to fail at solving a problem?2:13
Yes, of course, as long as they don't give up.2:17
By failing, students are taught what works and what doesn't.2:20
It's an excellent teaching aid that helps students become stronger by improving their scientific knowledge of the world around them.2:24
You have also created an Inventors Camp.2:31
It's basically an intensive week-long programme that is held during the summer.2:35
Our aim is to encourage students to explore the scientific world through inventive thinking.2:40
Initially, most of our students were children who already had a talent for science, but over the years we have seen a number of students who just want to try something different.2:46
There are no formal tests or grading, so it's a very relaxed learning environment.2:55
Well, the programme has been received well with an overall high rating from both parents and schools, but most of all from the students themselves.3:01
I'm thrilled to see that kids are becoming enthusiastic about science and discovery through the program.3:11
This program covers a variety of topics that encourage kids to work together to solve problems.3:16
What kid doesn't love to be creative and see their ideas become part of a solution?3:22
For them, it's very satisfying and pushes them to discover more.3:27
I wish you, Alex, continued success with the program and camp.3:33
Thank you for taking the time today to tell us about it.3:37
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