Correlation in Science Teaching

• Science cannot be taught in isolation. For an effective learning full advantage must be taken on the various correlations and applications of science.

• Correlation means the relationship between different subjects of the curriculum.

• To solve practical difficulty, combined knowledge of physics and other branches of knowledge is necessary.

• The child must know the importance between the different branches of knowledge.

• To make them know the interrelationships, science must be taught in schools in relation to other subjects.

1)Correlation within the subject
2)Correlation with other subjects
a) Incidental correlation

b) Systematic correlation

3) Correlation with life and environment

• All the branches of science are interdependent upon each other and a number of facts and principles are common to various science subjects.

• All the branches of science are interdependent upon each other and a number of facts and principles which are common to various science subjects.

• As a result new subjects like Physical chemistry,Bio-physics,Soil chemistry, Electrochemistry have been introduced

• Subject like atom, heat of a chemical reaction, electrolysis are of equal importance to a physicist and chemist.

• Physics provides instruments for the study of almost all other science subjects, thus correlating many principles of physics with other science subjects.

• Chemistry find its applications in various subjects like physics(theory of electrochemical reaction),biology(chemical manuring,air and water);Hygiene and physiology(air,water,chemistry of foods, chemistry of blood and purification of water)

It can be of two types

1) Incidental correlation

2) Systematic correlation

• It is natural correlation

• It means a broad treatment of the subject that brings about

  points of similarities between science and other related subjects.

• The success of incidental correlation depends on

a)Wide knowledge

b) Versatility of the science teache

• Eg: A chemistry teacher while teaching about oxygen, teacher says about hemoglobin, carrier of oxygen and mountaineers use oxygen carriers.

• A biology teacher while teaching about eye correlates with a camera and the formation of image in a convex lens.

• Systematic correlation with other subjects is achieved by a careful organization of the curriculum in different subjects avoiding unnecessary duplication of subject matter.

• The syllabus in science must be organized with those of other subjects.

• Eg: Knowledge of scientific principle is needed in understanding a topic like root pressure, osmosis etc

• Science is such a subject which can be correlated with other subjects. This will arouse interest in the students who associate the knowledge with the knowledge they have already acquired in other school subjects.

• Science is probably incomplete without mathematics.

• Mathematics has given a sound footing to scientific laws.

• For the correct understanding of science the knowledge of Mathematics is essential

• Eg: Gas laws-Proportion, equations, inverse ratio Genetics-Ratio

  Mechanics,light-Trignometrical ratio

• The study about soil, climate,distribution of plants and animals etc bring the two subjects together.

• Topics like pressure, temperature,humidity,minerals,climatic factors and living things are common to science and geography.

• The distribution of plants and animals, rise and fall of population, control of pests,weeds,diseases etc are concerns of both Biology and Geography.

• While mentioning about the various scientific discoveries taken place in the earlier periods, teacher can relate with the major events of the world history.

• Eg:A Chemistry teacher while teaching about iron and steel correlates incidentally with history by telling about the famous Delhi pillar and the metallurgical skill of the people of Ayurvedic period

• The history of plants and animals, history of scientific inventions and discoveries, technological development and industrial revolution etc are some of the areas in science that can be correlated with history.

• Although science is a practical subject, it is very important for its learners to express their views and ideas in clear and attractive form.

• For this purpose it is necessary that they should have good knowledge of language which they use.

• Student who does not have good control over the language cannot express his views and various scientific laws and principles in front of others.

• An artist should know the principles of light and shade, objects and bay ground for drawing or keeping the colour contrast in attractive condition.

• Thus some common features are found in the subjects of science and art ,because of which they can be correlated with each other effectively

• The teacher should correlate the subject with day–to–day life as well as with the environment.

• Students should be able to carry their learning from the physics and chemistry classes to their home lives.

• Students should be able to relate classroom learning to the environment around them, whether it is pollution or the use of pesticides.

• The teacher should help them develop value judgments to assess the events around them and draw their own inferences.

• The principles of correlation if applied judiciously help the student of today become a scientifically aware citizen of tomorrow.