All The Advantages of Science and Its Influence on Modern Life

Science is all around us and learning about science is important due to its relevance to student's daily lives. Science aims to ensure that students develop an interest in science as a means of expanding their curiosity and willingness to explore, ask questions about and speculate on the changing world around us. Science is taught to children of all ages; however, we focus on science during the primary years as a single subject. This focuses on the children develop scientific thinking that the children will use for the rest of their lives. This essay will highlight the following information, first, the information will address the Australian Curriculum, this will give a clear understanding of the expectation of the teaching required, and what aim is in the Australian Curriculum. The information will then go into how science is relevant to the real world, and what skills are developed through scientific thinking. Finally, the information will highlight the twenty-first-century skills that are developed and how these skills impact daily life.

The Australian Curriculum highlights what is required for the teachers to teach for that year level and marking criteria to assess the student’s development and understanding of science. The goal/aims that the Australian Curriculum focuses on is that the students gain an interest in science as it will expand their curiosity and willingness to explore and asking questions is crucial in understanding the nature of living things and its place in the cosmos. In doing so increases the student’s understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and the ability to use a range of inquiry methods, the ability to solve problems and make informed, evidence-based decisions while taking into consideration ethical and social implications. Science also helps build an understanding of historical and cultural contributions, an understanding of the diversity of careers related to science, a solid foundation of knowledge of the biological, chemical, physical, earth and space sciences (ACARA, 2018, v.8.4). Science has six key ideas that are representations of key aspects, these are embedded within each year level description and guide for the teachers to implement into their pedagogy, these key aspects include; form and function, stability and change, systems, matter and energy, scale and measurement and patterns, order and organisation (ACARA, 2018, v.8.4, p5).

Science relates to the real work in ways that everyone doesn’t realise, the working life will also use these skills and industries such as medicine, education, beauty, engineering, hospitality. All these workplaces involve mathematical thinking, critical thinking and reflection, literacy, reading skills and communication skills. Science gave us plastic, in the 1900s was the first time plastic was made by a chemist and since then chemistry has developed a wide stage of plastics that are suited for all sorts of jobs, this assists the employees to carry out their role. Science has also changed and influenced the way and what we eat. Science influenced the way we grow and what we use to grow the plants. In 1940s biologists began to develop high-yield varieties of corn, wheat and rice. Chemists worked towards findings to help plants from, these science-based technologies triggered striking changes in agriculture have played a massive play in what food available to feed the work and simultaneously transforming the economic strictions for the agricultural industry. If it wasn’t for science we wouldn’t have modern medicine and currently we need the medicine as we are face with a pandemic, COVID-19. In the late 1700s the first vaccination worked, scientific and doctors established the theory that many diseases are cause by germs. The first antibiotic was discovered in 1920s and cured smallpox, this treatment was successful for the deadly infections. Medicine is relieved on by the whole world and science is the factor of why some people are alive today (Understanding science, 2013).

The Australian Curriculum focuses of a range of aims and will be discussed throughout the essay. Science provides an empirical way of answering interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world. The knowledge it produces has proved to be a reliable basis for action in our personal, social and economic lives. Science is a dynamic, collaborative and creative human endeavour arising from our desire to make sense of our world through exploring the unknown, investigating universal mysteries, making predictions and solving problems. Science aims to understand a large number of observations in terms of a much smaller number of broad principles. Science knowledge is contestable and is revised, refined and extended as new evidence arises.

Skills that are developed through scientific thinking are developed over time and are developed when the student is engaged and enthusiastic about the subject, this teaching starts in the early years. Once the student’s go through primary and secondary school the students gain the knowledge and skills to assist them in the workplace. Science relates to the cognitive skills and in early childhood the educators focus strong on this as a developmental milestone and this prepares children for school. Primary science teachers focus on developing their children’s passion and encourage them to become egger to learn about science which support the development. When thinking about scientific thinking we talk about literacy, numeracy, information and communication technology competence, critical and creative thinking, ethical behaviour, personal and social competence and intercultural understanding. By the age of four a child comes to understand mental representation such as the human mind, how things are growing and how to stay healthy (Teachers College Columbia University, Dukun, 2010).

Twenty-first century includes skills that humans will use in their daily lives, these skills are gained by interacting and learning throughout all STEM subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. All forms of learning are now introducing new ways and forms to extend on STEM, even in early childhood the educators/teachers encourage the children to explore new ways through scientific skills. For example, Learning about the life cycle of plants learning and understanding how plants grow and these plants may provide food for the living. This is a 21st century skill as the children are learning and developing a skill to keep the life cycle happening, keep feeding people. Another skill is engaging children/students in using technology to assist in our everyday lives, like distance education, in the workplace, facetime to communicate with peers and work colleagues, developing an understanding of research skills and practices, interrogative questioning, being creative, artistry, curiosity, imagination, innovation, personal expression, self-direction, planning, self-discipline and personal expression (Education Reform, 25.08.2016). Education is turning more to online learning, digital textbooks, creating on scud lens, Learning is online so that is can happen at any time and place, Teens and adults are connecting with 1000’s of people within 10 minutes on Facebook and other social media networks. Cell phones also allows parents and others to keep in contact with other and to know where people are, this is where science plays a large role. Science and mathematics play a role in giving coordination on where someone is, sending messages and posting pictures, videos and going live where everyone can see. Workforce and carers that rely of science and technologies (AITSL, 2012, May 7).

Overall science is all around us and impact us every day, from birth to death. Science has assisted the humans to live, support electivity, grow food, medicine, education, cooking, measuring and critically thinking and reflecting. In primary school the teacher uses the Australian curriculum, this guide and assist the teachers to create their lesson plans and what to focus on when teaching the children. The largest aim is for teachers to encourage the children to develop an interest in science which will then develop skills supporting this subject and their cognitive skills. Today all age groups are using science through technology, this allows us all to stay connected with people close and fair away through social media. Cell phones also allows parents and others to keep in contact with other and to know where people are, this is where science plays a large role. Science and mathematics play a role in giving coordination on where someone is, sending messages and posting pictures, videos and going live where everyone can see. Some Twenty – first century skills we live with every day, like distance education, in the workplace, facetime to communicate with peers and work colleagues, developing an understanding of research skills and practices, interrogative questioning, being creative, artistry, curiosity, imagination, innovation, personal expression, self-direction, planning, self-discipline and personal expression.