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Sub-Standard Teaching Methods Combated by Ambitious Social Enterprise

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As high school science grades continue to fall, ALISON, the free online learning and certification provider has just released two new free interactive courses on Biology to rekindle student’s waning interest in Science.

The need for high quality Science students has never been higher. Economic development is a goal of all nation-states, and a life necessity for lesser developed countries. However for economies and nations to prosper in the 21st century they must be on the cusp of scientific innovation.

Scientific innovation rarely begins in the laboratory but rather much earlier than that in the classroom. Corporations today recognize that for their employees to be on the cutting edge of innovation they need to be reared on an educational diet of solid scientific fundamentals. Schools need to develop sound knowledge of maths and science in their students and foster scientific curiosity from a young age.

However in spite of the obvious advantages of developing sophisticated scientific minds in the classroom, the education system seems to churn out apathetic students year on year. Science grades are not increasing but rather falling and at an unsettling rate.

Students are are disillusioned with subject matter presented to them in the classroom and lecture halls. That's the view of Dublin City University (DCU) President Ferdinand Von Prondzynski who recently met with second-level students who spoke about their relationship with the school curriculum. Von Prondzynski in a recent Irish Times article opined that the student's struggle to grapple with the outdated, unengaging school curriculum currently facing them. "[Student's] educational experience was too often undermined by a system that did not encourage initiative, participation, analysis and evaluation"

"I cannot say that the students were complaining: what they were presenting was not a list of accusations, but the expression of disappointment and regret. And what were they disappointed about? At one level, it was about inadequate resources: excessively large classes, not enough computers or outdated equipment. But listening to them I understood that what exercised them much more than any of that was that our system of secondary education did not allow them to show initiative, voice opinions, or practice participation. "

Von Prondzynski is not alone in voicing in his concern over the inadequacy of the traditional education system in the 21st century. Educators and educational institutions are painfully aware of student's lack of engagement with their studies. However as computers continue to become more and more part of our lives, interactive pedagogical technology is beginning to provide an alternative to archaic teaching methods.

These interactive learning technologies are capturing learners' attention and allow students to grapple with science in an interesting, interactive and though-provoking way.

For example, Irish-based course provider ALISON has recently added to their extensive suite of free online courses with the announcement of two new interactive Biology courses.

These course are a useful introduction for those who wish to learn and understand the fundamentals of biology from the definition of living things to complex phenomenon such as photosynthesis and homeostasis. The course is also an ideal study aid for biology students at both second and third-level.


Foundation Biology

Biology- Upper Secondary 1

Biology- Upper Secondary 2