Web- based teaching helps learn science

Washington, Feb. 12: Web- based learning tools can help deepen science knowledge among struggling pupils, and ease the science literacy gap for underachieving students, according to a study published today.

Researchers at University of Oregon in the US introduced four interactive online science units, which students and teachers accessed with computers or tablets, into 13 middle schools in two US states.

The online units were tested in a randomised, controlled trial with over 2,300 students and 71 teachers.

While all participating students improved their science knowledge, the results were particularly notable for less able students.

Students with learning disabilities improved 18 percentage points on assessments of science knowledge from pre- test to post- test, and English language learners increased 15 percentage points.

Pupils taught the same content with traditional methods, such as textbooks, showed only 5point gains.

The results published in the International Journal of Science Education are especially important given that students with learning disabilities and English language learners have been historically marginalised in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ( STEM) fields, researchers said.

Despite recent gains, a wide educational attainment gap remains for these students, making them less likely than Caucasian and Asian pupils to complete science coursework in school and pursue STEM careers, they said. — PTI