3 Tips to Improve Students’ Performance in Science

Contributed by Alexander J. Salazar, Teacher II – Pablo Roman National High School

A lot of Filipino students will agree when I say that Science is one of the extremely difficult subjects to learn in school. However, no matter how difficult something is, there will always be means to overcome it. Thus, experts in the field give pieces of advice on how to improve academic achievement in Science subject. So, get your paper and pen and take note of three basic tips, oftentimes ignored, but will definitely make students’ performance in this subject better.

Full attention – Students must make the most out of the allotted time for class to listen to the teacher and to understand the subject matter. They should avoid distractions to concentrate on the lesson to fully understand the content and the context. Some students make the mistake of using one class’ lecture time to accomplish other tasks for the next or other subjects to save time.

For instance, students attending the Science class are doing their homework in Mathematics for the next period or reviewing their lessons in Social Studies to prepare for a quiz.

According to Cindy Donaldson in her article entitled, “10 Tips for Science Class Success”, the best time to learn the lesson is when the teacher discusses it. Learning something at home on one’s own takes twice as long.

Take down notes – Taking down notes can help in succeeding Science subject. Students should write notes and sustain note taking during the class discussion to get important concepts. It serves not only as a guide in reading the textbook but also as a reference for the concepts shared by the teachers which are not available in the textbooks provided by the school.

According to California State University San Marcos in United States of America, writing something is equivalent to reading it ten times. Note taking practice will also help the students in listing down the questions about concepts they do not comprehend or understand completely. It will remind the students about the ideas they want to clarify from the teachers. But for someone to take good notes, he or she must possess effective listening skills according to the article “Studying Science: The Six Keys to Success”.

Students must listen attentively to the teachers, especially if the objectives for the lecture are given. It will help the students to listen more effectively and to take down notes accurately if the main points are identified and understood.

Form a study group – It is said that two heads are better than one. Having a study buddy or study group will greatly help in improving students’ performance in Science class. According to California State University San Marcos in United States of America, one of the best ways to learn is to get a study partner or to create a study group and work on problems independently and then together. When someone has a study buddy or group, he or she will have someone to work with especially on arduous topics. They may compare notes and teach one another after the class.

For instance, when students are having difficulty in learning the concept and problem solving on half-life of radioactive isotopes, they may independently try to solve for the half-life of a given element and later on compare their respective answers with one another to check it. Forming a study group will create an avenue for the students to learn collaboratively.

Indeed, there are different ways to overcome the difficulties in learning Science and the application rests on our hands. It is very essential that students grasp mastery of the subject at their young age considering the role and function of science and technology in nation building.

Knowledge in Science and Technology is a powerful tool to shape the future. If youngsters will have in-depth knowledge of the subject, then they can be active members of the society in building a better future.

References:

Donaldson, C. (2013). 10 Tips for Science Class Success. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/maximize– performance-science/

California State University San Marcos. Tips for Success in Science. Retrieved from https://www.csusm.edu/chemistry/tips.html#

ExploreHealthCareers.org. Studying Science: The Six Keys to Success. Retrieved from http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Page/208/Studying_Science_The_Six_Keys_to_Success