Popularising science

You don't hold it to your lips breathing deeply from your lungs like I did. For all my heavy breathing, I managed to fill only 1/5th of the balloon. And then, a warm and chirpy trainer from Zee Learn Gakken Science Academy showed us how to: it was so easy the way she did it. Just hold it away from you and breath into it and voila!

That was just one of a few enjoyable demos by two trainers from Zee Learn Gakken Science Academy who took a curious audience on an exploration of science and its magic!
The Academy is the brainchild of Zee Learn and Gakken J Holdings, an educational firm from Japan. The  programme is a three-step systematic methodology of ‘observe, explore and reflect,’ which would help a child nurture his/her scientific aptitude.

“Our aim is to bring the best of Japanese education in the field of science for schools in India. We want to improve conceptual understanding and develop scientific temper among students by providing hands-on experiment tools for young students,” Gakken J Holdings’ Chairman Mr Tetsuya Onodera said, adding, “I am confident that this programme will ensure a better conceptual understanding and help children develop an affinity towards the subject.”

The methodology enables students to reflect on their experiences as the instructor helps create situations where the students are encouraged to question and think about the learning experience. The science programme will be conducted in the school premises by dedicated personnel trained by the company.

Interestingly, the possibility of training the school teaching staff to incorporate the programme in the Science curriculum does not seem to have been explored.