Exploring the Essence of Children's Scientific Learning Process and Policy Support

   According to different cases of children’s scientific learning activities and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research, the article finds conclusions of the essences of children's scientific learning... [ view full abstract ]

   According to different cases of children’s scientific learning activities and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research, the article finds conclusions of the essences of children's scientific learning process. One conclusion is that this learning process is the “active construction of experiences” rather than “passive acceptance of knowledge”. Additionally, the learning process also needs collaboration with rational thinking and perceptual thinking but not “rational thinking” alone. On the basis of observing and analyzing the process of children's scientific learning activities, the article also mentions and makes effective instruction strategies for children’s scientific learning process: creating appropriate contexts based on analysis of original experiences; triggering interest of independent inquiring by “questions” and “suspense”; completing meaning construction by critical thinking and skepticism. These strategies also can make detailed explanations of the generation of children's scientific learning process. For instance, the functions of different contexts can help children acquire better understandings. Besides, the using of “exploration” and “criticism” during activities can encourage children continue to discover new things and improve their abilities of creativity. Finally, the article concludes that the process of children's scientific learning is the process of the fully participation of children's wisdom, emotion, body and feeling and also is the process of children's enjoyment of life and the development of life.

    Key words: Children

                     Scientific Learning Process  

                     Exploring of the Essence 

                     Instruction Strategy